Singapore at 61: Building on Shared Values and Enduring Friendship 

This year, Singapore celebrates 61 years of independence. 2026 also marks the 60th anniversary of the launch of Singapore’s Pledge which is recited by Singaporeans on the 9th of August at our annual National Day Parade and other celebratory events throughout the country to commemorate our founding and purpose as a nation and people. The Pledge is taught in our schools and recited by our schoolchildren and by our national servicemen when they serve their mandatory military service. Written by our first Foreign Minister, Mr. S Rajaratnam, the Pledge calls on Singaporeans to commit ourselves as “one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society, based on justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation”. 

The pledge entrenches the enduring four core values of Singapore. The first is multiculturalism, a principle first reflected in the Pledge and now a way of life for Singaporeans. This is the belief that no single ethnic, linguistic or religious group defines Singapore and that every Singaporean is an equal member of society.

Even in today’s well connected and globalized world multiculturalism is not a given. Its continuance requires effort, dedication and commitment. In Singapore, we form institutions such as our inter-faith councils to foster mutual understanding and trust through communication and knowledge, with more than 250 interfaith activities held annually. Alongside such institutions are other organisations such as ethnic self-help groups supporting the less fortunate within and between each ethnic community. Our bilingual language policy in schools, and ethnic integration policy for public housing estates, multiculturalism is not just a slogan but a part of our daily lives. The common space has enlarged over the years and Singaporeans are beneficiaries and guardians of this common space.

The second core value, democracy means ensuring that Singaporeans have voice and stake in shaping Singapore’s future via the unshakeable right to vote. Singapore conducts elections every five years for a government and the right every six years to elect a President. Frequent, regular and broad participation in the electoral process is the clearest embodiment of democracy.

Justice is Singapore’s third core principle which has been critical for Singapore’s development. The concept that the same law applies regardless of rank or wealth builds trust and confidence in the state. The rule of law remains central to our idea of nationhood and is reflected in Singapore’s solid ranking in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law index.

The fourth principle enshrined in our pledge is equality. This is succinctly captured in the words of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister’s words when he announced separation from Malaysia - “This is not a Malay nation; this is not a Chinese nation’ this is not an Indian nation. Everyone will have his place, equal: language, culture and religion.”

Multi-culturalism, democracy, justice and equality, has held Singapore and its people together, through difficult times such as Covid-19 and will serve as a critical bond in an increasingly turbulent global environment that appears to be fracturing along cultural, ethnic, ideological and religious faultlines.

As we celebrate our birth we must remember and thank our friends around the world for their partnership in our growth and development, including Bangladesh. In 2027, both countries will celebrate 55 years of diplomatic and bilateral relations. Singapore was the first Southeast Asian nation to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh in February 1972. Over the decades, the friendship has deepened and strengthened. In 2025, trade in goods between Singapore and Bangladesh totalled SGD$3.9 billion, making Bangladesh Singapore’s second largest trading partner in South Asia. Singapore is also a sizeable investor in Bangladesh with foreign direct investment in Bangladesh amounting to just over SGD$3 billion in 2024.

Singaporean firms Sembcorp, PSA International, Surbana Jurong and Singapore Airlines have a firm presence in Bangladesh’s economy and are interested in expanding further. Singapore can also partner Bangladesh in the digital economy, urban planning, infrastructure projects and healthcare.

At the people-to-people level, the ties are longstanding and predate both our independence. Many Bangladeshis have lived and worked in Singapore since the Colonial times, helping to build Singapore and adding to our multiculturalist pot. More recently, some 2,200 Bangladeshi officials have come to Singapore to engage in the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) on courses and seminars from finance and public administration to sustainable development, and aviation. The interaction between our citizens cannot be overemphasized �" it builds mutual understanding and with understanding respect.

Singapore’s High Commission in Dhaka was upgraded from a Consulate in October 2023. This reflects the development and growth in our ties. Following the upgrade, our mutual engagement has increased from government and political parties to culture and academia. Last year the High Commission, as part of our 60th independence year celebrations, held a series of events including a donation of 60 books to the Bangladesh National Library, a movie screening at North South University featuring two Singaporean films, cooking classes on Singapore cuisine held at the Bangladesh National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute and a children’s charity event with Action Aid Bangladesh.

This year, we have added a consular networking and information sharing reception, an alumni gathering for SCP participants and a Singapore-Bangladesh art exhibition co-organised with the Art Bangla Foundation.

We continue to value our warm friendship with Bangladesh and will work to foster even closer relations and ties not only between us but also on the global stage. Even as we celebrate we must keep a close eye on the increasing ructions geopolitically. In times like this, Singapore needs the cohesion afforded and made possible by multiculturalism, democracy, justice and equality more than ever. These four values not only bind but are the building blocks for wisdom. The pledge crafted by S Rajaratnam remains relevant as ever for Singapore.