The fact that his daughter and the country's current leader, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, deliberately overlooks these facts of history is a testimony to the rising importance that Bangladesh attaches to its relations with China, and her personal commitment in it.

So how much of a game changer is this new relationship between Bangladesh and China?

Internally, it marks a significant shift in our politics.

Traditionally, it used to be the main opposition group, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, that was known to work for closer relations with China, primarily to counter Indian influence.

In contrast, the present ruling party, the Awami League, clearly preferred India for its closest ties, which was rooted in the latter's all-out assistance in our freedom struggle, resulting in 4,000 Indian soldiers laying down their lives for Bangladesh's freedom.

All that appears to be in the distant past now.

After her return to power in 2009, Ms Hasina has consistently shown a keen interest in developing close relations with China even as she made vigorous efforts to win India's confidence.

On security, India's biggest concern, Bangladesh has been very cooperative in removing all terrorist camps of Indian separatist groups that previously existed along our border.

Connectivity through the Asian Highway and the Trans-Asian Railway projects are now the priority visions of both countries. The Asian Highway project involves 32 member countries and the network extends from Tokyo in the east to Kapikule, Turkey, in the west and from Torpynovka, the Russian Federation, in the north, to Denpasar, Indonesia, in the south.

The Trans-Asian Railway initiative, on the other hand, involving 28 countries, seeks to improve rail connectivity within Asia, and between Europe and Asia.

Some trade issues still remain to be resolved.

Issues relating to the sharing of water of more than 50 rivers that flow between our two countries still remain largely unsolved, with a proposed barrage on Teesta River being the most urgent.

Simply put, given the troubled past of Bangladesh-India relations, the present is qualitatively different.

And it is at this crucial moment of Bangladesh-India relations that Bangladesh's relationship with China is reaching unprecedented levels of cooperation and trust.

Nothing would suit Bangladesh better than to be able to continue as presently conceived.

But the crucial question is: How will India, given its troubled past, take Bangladesh's warming relationship with China that the visiting President termed a "strategic partnership" ?

To Bangladesh's great relief, and diplomatic success, India has not reacted negatively, at least in public.

However, it will be naive to expect that India will not have any reservations about it.

Internally, Ms Hasina's government is in no position to upset India too much on account of China.

But the distance she has already covered in coming closer to China has surprised most of her critics and the international observers of South Asian politics.

To move further in this direction, Ms Hasina will need all her diplomatic skills and persuasive powers.

The sudden, yet not too unexpected, deterioration of India's relations with Pakistan, and China's reassertion of its historic close relations with Pakistan may alter everything.

The continuing cross-border terrorism, which is destabilising Kashmir, makes for a tinderbox-like situation in South Asia, with the possibility of war any time.

China's new scheme of rebuilding the historic Silk Route under the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project has not been fully welcomed in India, though Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives have already signed up, and Bangladesh welcomed it during Mr Xi's visit.

Some Indian think-tanks have termed the OBOR China's project to increase its sphere of influence and bring India's neighbours under its fold.

However, it has to be noted that bilateral trade between these two Asian giants has grown over the years and reached nearly US$100 billion.

What role will the United States play in this new equation?

Given the rising tension over conflicting claims in the South China Sea, America's increasingly negative view of rising Chinese maritime strength and Japan's demands for tougher action against the Chinese stance on the issue, the pressure could mount on Bangladesh to be less enthusiastic about getting close to China.

So the all-important question is: How will the growing friendship between Bangladesh and China work out, given that Dhaka's closeness with New Delhi is at an all-time high?

Bangladesh needs all the assistance it can get and India can never match China in terms of the funds that Bangladesh needs.

Bangladesh's one and only goal is development, and it needs both India and China.

We have successfully stayed out of big power politics and regional power rivalry.

We cannot and should not get even remotely involved with the bilateral problems of any other country.

Bangladesh must pursue its own agenda for development, and peaceful and cooperative relations with all, especially the two Asian giants, on whose development successes Dhaka must traverse.

• This is a series of columns on global affairs written by top editors from members of the Asia News Network and published in newspapers across the region.