Foreign-Affairs
How expatriate Bangladeshis observed Independence Day in California
Expatriate Bangladeshis in California, the largest state in the USA, observed Independence Day on March 26 in a befitting manner.
Bangladeshi-American diaspora organisation "Banglar Bijoy Bahar" organised an iftar party and discussion meeting on this occasion at Bangla Mosque in Redlands, California.
The speakers at the meeting remembered the contribution of the brave freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in the liberation war of Bangladesh.
The day was celebrated in different moods across the country.
This year's independence was celebrated by hoisting the Bangladeshi flag in the morning, discussion meeting in the afternoon and distribution of iftar among all the leaders and workers and expatriate Bangladeshis at the Bangla Mosque in Redlands.
The Bangla Mosque was founded in 1999 with financial donations from expatriate Bangladeshis and later it was named Islamic Society of California Mosque.
Special prayers were offered on this day to pray for the souls of the martyred freedom fighters.
Eddy Tehada, the mayor of Redlands, raised the American flag and Ismail Hossain, the president of organisation, hoisted Bangladeshi flag. They formally started the Independence Day program at the Redlands Islamic Society grounds.
In the afternoon, the discussion meeting was addressed by Bangladesh Association of Los Angeles Vice President Sultan Shahria Babu, Organizing Secretary Ehteshamul Haque, City Councilor Mikail Khan, Local Congressman Parthi Kausar Ahmed, Poet Shahidul Islam Roni, Reciter Bashir Atahar, Organizer Shawkat Hossain, Shafiq Titu Islam, BCI President Apu Bhai, Chairman of Jasmine Khan Foundation Moslem Khan, Adviser of Banglar Bijoy Bahar Dr. Zainul Abedin.
Rana Shawkat, host of Bangla TV, moderated the discussion meeting.
Bangladesh's Seoul mission celebrates Independence, National Day
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul has celebrated Independence and National Day.
Bangladesh Ambassador to South Korea Delwar Hossain hoisted the national flag in the presence of the Embassy officials and expatriate Bangladeshis Sunday.
Then, he paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing floral wreaths in front of his bust inside the chancery.
A special prayer was offered seeking the salvation of the departed soul of the Father of the Nation and all the freedom fighters, and for the continued peace and prosperity of the country.
The embassy officials read out the messages of the president, prime minister, foreign minister and state minister for foreign affairs.
A documentary on Independence Day was screened. It was followed by a discussion.
Mauritania welcomes Bangladesh’s contract farming proposal
West African country Mauritania has welcomed Bangladesh’s proposal for contract farming aimed at opening up the country’s cultivable land to Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and businessmen.
During his recent visit to Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott, the non-resident Ambassador of Bangladesh, Mohammad Zulkarnain, put forward the proposal during a bilateral meeting with Mauritania’s Minister of Agriculture, Yahya Ould Ahmed El Wagh.
The minister in response expressed his hope to work with Bangladesh to address food security.
“An initiative taken by Mauritania to give up the vast cultivable land in the country’s southern region to the private sector by April this year will create potential opportunities for Bangladeshi businessmen and entrepreneurs,” Yahya Ould Ahmed said.
He laid special emphasis on the application of the latest technology, saying that it will pave the way for the implementation of commercial agricultural activities instead of extracting the existing natural agricultural resources in Mauritania.
The Bangladeshi ambassador, courtesy of Mauritanian Investment Promotion Agency, also visited the vast plains of Rosso and Buga in Mauritania’s southern region, where the contract farming opportunities will arise.
The region offers prospects and opportunities for raising livestock, as well as cultivating various crops including wheat, paddy, and watermelon. A Saudi Arabian company is already producing onions, garlic, and watermelon in the region and exporting those to Europe.
The Mauritanian agriculture minister also conveyed his congratulations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her leadership in the overall development of Bangladesh.
‘You set an example of empathy, generosity for the world’: Biden writes to PM Hasina
US President Joe Biden has said his country made a commitment to finding long-term solutions to the Rohingya refugee crisis and holding perpetrators of the atrocities accountable.
“You set an example for the world of empathy and generosity in practice,” the US President wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The US Embassy in Dhaka shared the letter on Sunday (March 26, 2023) which was originally sent on March 21.
The US president said Bangladesh has opened its arms and welcomed nearly one million Rohingya refugees.
Read More: UK King Charles eyes continuing strong, close partnership with Bangladesh
In a message to PM Hasina, Biden on behalf of the United States, wished her and the people of Bangladesh a happy Independence Day.
Bangladeshis understand deeply the value of freedom and independence, as they fought courageously in 1971 to choose their own fate and to speak their own language, Biden wrote in the letter that he concluded with "Joy Bangla."
As Bangladesh approaches its next election, the US president said, he is reminded of the “deep value” both the nations place on “democracy, equality, respect for human rights, and free and fair elections.”
Read More: British parliament urged to recognise Bangladesh Genocide
He applauded Bangladesh’s demonstrated commitment to protecting the most vulnerable as the largest contributor to peacekeeping operations.
“We thank Bangladesh for cohosting the Global Action Plan ministerial that significantly elevated the political commitment to end the global pandemic,” Biden said.
In over 50 years of diplomatic relations, the United States and Bangladesh have achieved a lot together – advancing economic development, strengthening people-to-people ties, addressing global health and climate issues, partnering on the humanitarian response to Rohingya refugees, and committing to a prosperous, secure, democratic, and independent Bangladesh, said the US president.
Read More: Bangladesh’s tremendous achievements widely commended by int’l community: Xi Jinping
Ghana invites investors to collaborate with V20 countries
Ghana will host a Climate Prosperity Plan (CPP) event on the theme "Partnering with Private Sector: Building Climate Resilience through Climate Prosperity Plans" on March 29, 2023.
The event is an opportunity for investors to collaborate with Vulnerable Twenty (V20) members in exploring how the business community can support the drive for climate resilient economies in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, said the V20.
The Ministries of Finance, Environment Science Technology and Innovation, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana will organize the event.
Participants will explore the role that the private sector can play in the development of innovative financing options for projects/programmes ,under the CPPs, that counteract climate risks and leverage transition opportunities.
Climate Prosperity Plans constitute comprehensive strategies designed to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, enhance climate resilience and create new economic opportunities for national prosperity.
The plans involve collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society organizations to develop and implement climate-smart investments and policies that create jobs and improve the quality of life of the people while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The closed event will feature experts from various fields, including Government officials, Private Sector, Representatives from the V20 members developing and implementing CPPs - especially Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana, private sector/business representatives and philanthropic foundations.
Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance and the V20 Chair commented: “V20 countries recognize the need to develop economy-wide investment strategies focused on delivering climate resilient growth. The collaboration with the private sector - domestic and international - is critical for ensuring development-positive climate action with technology transfer and innovative business model creation. We look forward to cooperating with the private sector and our philanthropic partners in the delivery of our Climate Prosperity Plans”.
Ghana is currently the Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and by default the Chair of the V20 Group of Finance Ministers.
Formed in 2015, the V20 Group of Finance Ministers is a dedicated cooperation initiative of economies systematically vulnerable to climate change.
The V20 membership stands at 58 countries representing some 1.5 billion people from nations including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Yemen.
Independence Day celebrated in Washington DC
The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Sunday celebrated the 53rd Independence and National Day with a fresh vow to materialize the dreams of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of the great Liberation War.
To celebrate the day, the Embassy arranged elaborate programs that included hoisting of the National flag, placing a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, screening of a documentary and discussion session.
The day’s programs began in the morning with ceremonially hoisting of the national flag by Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran on the Chancery premises.
Officials and employees of the Mission were present on the occasion.
Later, the Ambassador placed a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the presence of the officials of the Embassy.
The messages issued on the occasion by President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam were read out.
Deputy Chief of Mission Ferdousi Shahriar, Minister (Consular) Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Counsellor (Public Diplomacy) Arifa Rahman Ruma and Counsellor and Head of Chancery Mohammad Moniruzzaman read out the messages.
Later, a discussion session highlighting the significance of the Independence and National Day was held at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Embassy.
Taking part in the discussion session, Ambassador Imran termed the great Independence and National Day as the most glorious and memorable day of Bangladesh and extended his heartfelt greetings to all Bangalees across the USA on the occasion.
He also paid deep homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and three million martyrs who sacrificed their life for the cause of independence.
Ambassador Imran said in the wake of the Pakistani army’s barbaric attack on the unarmed Bangalees in Dhaka on the night of 25th March in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formally declared the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of 26th March.
The nation, he said, soon launched the War of Liberation at the call of the Father of the Nation, and under his fearless leadership, Bangladesh achieved long-cherished independence on December 16 in 1971 after the nine-month bloody war against Pakistan.
The Ambassador said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought throughout his life for transforming Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal).
But Bangabandhu could not materialize his cherished dream as he was brutally assassinated by the anti-liberation elements on the black night of 15th August in 1975, Ambassador Imran continued.
He called upon all to work unitedly to materialize the dreams of Bangabandhu and martyrs of the War of Liberation by turning Bangladesh into a hunger-and-poverty-free developed and prosperous country.
Ambassador Imran also requested the expatriate Bangladeshis to project the country’s tremendous achievements and progress abroad that took place in the last 14 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Defense Attaché Brigadier General Md. Shahedul Islam also took part in the discussion and highlighted the significance of the Independence and National Day.
He also discussed in detail the important contribution of the members of the Armed Forces to the War of Liberation in 1971.
After the discussion, a special prayer was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation and the martyrs of the Liberation War. First Secretary Md Ataur Rahman conducted the programs.
SAARC Literature Award 2023 conferred on Bangabandhu
Delhi-based literary platform, Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature, has conferred the SAARC Literature Award 2023 on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at its flagship 63rd Literature Festival.
The three-day long festival is being held from 26-28 March 2023 in New Delhi with more than a hundred leading researchers, writers, artistes, litterateurs, and academia from South and South East Asia. In its inauguration session of the high-profile conference, the Foundation’s President Sahitaya Academy awarded novelist and Padmashree Awardee Ajeet Cour has handed over the award to the eminent cultural personality Ramendu Majumdar and noted researcher and writer Mofidul Hoque. Press Minister and Counsellor (Political) of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi was present in the event.
In the citation of the ward, it was mentioned that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, architect of independent Bangladesh, known to his people ‘Bangabandhu’ is a towering figure of national liberation of oppressed people of the world. Like Father of the Nation of India Mahatma Gandhi and American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Bangabandhu was brutally murdered by the forces of darkness, but no power on earth could erase him from history. A new dimension of his life opened up when his long lost prison dairy and notebook came to light and subsequently published.
The FOSWAL mentioned that the Trilogy has great merit as a political document and a human testament written with love and compassion, by a man who changed the course of history and led his people to freedom.
In his speech, founder President of FOSWAL Ajeet Cour on Sunday Independence Day is being celebrated across Bangladesh and this is a great honour for FOSWAL to honour their Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who brought Independence to Bangladesh, and made his people walk from darkness to light.
She added that the War of Liberation of Bangladesh was different and unique, because it was for preservation of the ‘Vibrant Spirit of Man’ which throbs and thrives only in its own culture and in its own language, according to Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
Independence Day celebrated in New Delhi
The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi celebrated the Independence and National Day of Bangladesh with due solemnity and fervour on Sunday.
Md. Mustafizur Rahman, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, started the daylong programme in the morning by hoisting the national flag at the High Commission premises and placing floral wreaths on the portrait of the Father of the NationBangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In the evening, a discussion programme was organized at the High Commission as part of the celebration.
The messages issued by the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs were read out by the Mission officials.
A documentary on the Liberation War of Bangladesh prepared by Department of Films and Publications was also screened.
High Commissioner Rahman conveyed his greetings to all on the occasion of the day.
Paying rich tribute to the Father of the Nation, the three million martyrs of the Liberation War and the women who were dishonoured in the War, he said, “The main goal of the Liberation War was to build a liberal, developed, contributing, egalitarian and democratic state through complete emancipation. We must sharpen our collective vows and commitments to achieve that aspirational goal.”
The High Commissioner also called on everyone to participate in building ‘Smart Bangladesh’ under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, holding the noble spirit of the Liberation War and the ideals of Bangabandhu in their hearts.
After the discussion session, a special prayer was offered for the salvation of the souls of the Father of the Nation, his family members and all the martyrs who played a historical role in all stages of movements for freedom and Liberation War of Bangladesh as well as well as for the peace, progress and prosperity of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Officials and employees from the Bangladesh High Commission and expatriate Bangladeshis were present at the event.
As 26 March falls on a weekend this year, a special reception will be organized on 28 March 2023 at the High Commission premiseson the occasion of the Independence and National Day.
Among others, eminent political leaders of the host country, high-ranking officials, foreign diplomats based in New Delhi and expatriate Bangladeshis are expected to attend the event.
UK King Charles eyes continuing strong, close partnership with Bangladesh
King of the United Kingdom (UK) Charles III had said he looks forward to the continuing warm friendship and the strong and close partnership between the two countries, including as members of the Commonwealth, in this special year of the tenth anniversary of the Commonwealth Charter.
"As you, and Bangladeshis everywhere, celebrate today, my wife joins me in sending you our warmest good wishes for the year ahead," said the head of State of the UK in a congratulatory message to President Abdul Hamid.
King Charles extended his heartfelt congratulations to President Hamid on Independence Day.
"As we face these challenging times, our work together for prosperity, democracy and peace, and above all to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, is all the more important," he said.
"My wife and I were touched and delighted to be greeted by many of the British Bangladeshi community during our recent visit to London's Brick Lane, demonstrating the close ties between our people and communities," the message reads.
Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC observes “Genocide Day”
The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC observed the “Genocide Day” on Saturday commemorating one of the most brutal genocides in world history that was committed by the Pakistan army on 25th March in 1971 in Bangladesh.
The Embassy organized elaborate programs to pay deep homage to the martyrs who were killed mercilessly by the Pakistani military junta’s operation code named “Operation Searchlight” on the black night of 25th March in that year.
The day’s programmes began with observance of one-minute silence to pay profound respect to the martyrs of the War of Liberation. This was followed by screening of a documentary on the brutalities of the Pakistani army in Bangladesh in 1971.
The messages issued by President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were read out by Minister (Commerce) Md Salim Reza and Minister (Political) Md Rasheduzzaman.
Taking part in the discussion, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran paid rich tributes to the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and three million martyrs of the Liberation War.
Recalling the Pakistani army’s atrocities in the War of Liberation War, he said the Pakistan army launched the infamous “Operation Searchlight” in Dhaka on the night of March 25 in 1971 as part of their blueprint to thwart the Awami League's assumption of office following its victory in the elections held in 1970.
He described the March 25 massacre as the worst genocide in human history and mentioned that the systematic mass killing and atrocities perpetrated by the Pakistani junta on the unarmed Bangalees on that day left thousands of people dead and a trail of destruction which continued till December 1971.
Ambassador Imran said Bangabandhu formally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of the 26th March 1971 after the Pakistan army’s barbaric attack.
Under Bangabandhu’s undisputed leadership, Bangladesh achieved ultimate victory on December 16 in 1971 after the nine-month bloody war against Pakistan, he said.
The Ambassador called upon all to work unitedly to build “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal) as dreamt by Bangabandhu and join the journey of establishing a “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War.
Minister (Economic) Md. Mahadee Hasan also took part in the discussion and urged all to highlight the issue of Pakistani army’s brutality on 25th March before the world community to get the international recognition of the genocide.
The programs ended with offering a special prayer seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of the War of Liberation.
First Secretary (Visa & Passport Wing) Muhammad Abdul Hye Milton conducted the programs.