Religion based politics will be banned if cancellation of the fifth amendment to the country's constitution is finalised by the Supreme Court (SC), said the law minister yesterday. But he added that the words Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim in the preamble of the constitution and its declaration of Islam as the state religion will remain intact.
He said Islam was made the state religion through the eighth amendment, and the High Court (HC) in its verdict did not say anything about the words Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim. He also said the words are a part of the constitution's preamble, not of its main body.
The fifth amendment had legitimised all governments that had been in power following the coup of August 15, 1975 till April 9, 1979 including late president Ziaur Rahman's ascension to the presidency, and included Bismillah-Ar-Rahman-Ar-Rahim in the preamble of the constitution.
The SC on Sunday lifted its four-year old stay on a HC verdict that had declared the fifth amendment illegal.
Meanwhile yesterday, BNP Secretary General Khandakar Delwar Hossain and three SC lawyers Tajul Islam, Kamruzzaman Bhuiyan, and Munshi Ahsan Kabir filed two separate petitions with the apex court seeking reinstatement of the stay on the HC judgement.
Tajul Islam told The Daily Star yesterday that the chamber bench of the Appellate Division of SC will hear the petitions today.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said the original spirit of the constitution will be restored if the HC verdict's implementation is cleared by the SC.
The original constitution of 1972 embodied four fundamental principles of nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism.
Shafique Ahmed said the government will implement the HC verdict according to the recommendations of Bangladesh Law Commission.
"We will seek suggestions from the law commission on how we can implement the High Court verdict after January 18, when the Supreme Court is due to hear the leave to appeal petitions against the verdict," he said.
He made the statements while talking to reporters in his Bangladesh Secretariat office yesterday afternoon.
Replying to a question, the minister told The Daily Star that despite the cancellation of the fifth amendment, the fourth amendment will however not be restored as the 12th amendment of 1991 blocks the way for that restoration.
The Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act 1975 was passed on January 25, 1975. Sweeping changes were brought to the constitution by this amendment. The presidential form of government was introduced in place of the parliamentary system, a one-party system was put in place instead of a multi-party system, the power of the parliament was curtailed increasing the power of the president, and the judiciary lost much of its independence, according to legal experts.
The 12th amendment restored the parliamentary system of government replacing the presidential system.
Although the fifth amendment cancelled the fourth amendment which had introduced the one party system putting BKSAL in power, it however kept the provision of the presidential government intact.Source: Daily Star, January 5, 2010
Continue reading the rest...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
Internet Access reached to 25 million in Bangladesh
An estimated 25 million people in Bangladesh have now access to the internet on sharing basis, the South Asian country's Science and Information and Communication Ministry said Thursday. Speaking at a press conference Thursday, Secretary of Bangladesh 's Science and Information and Communication Technology Ministry AKM Abdul Awal Mojumder said the country's six mobile operators and Internet Service Providers have so far provided over 5 million internet connections.
"We've estimated that nearly 25 million people in the country are using 5 million internet connections mostly provided by the mobile operators on sharing basis," Mahfuzur Rahman, Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council under the science ministry, said in the press conference.
Rahman, also an additional secretary of the Bangladeshi government, said the number of internet users in the country is increasing yearly by around 0.3 percent.
Science secretary Mojumder, however, said the government has already established computer labs with internet and other modern facilities in all the 64 districts of the country as part of its efforts to educate young generation in Information and Communications Technology.
"We've set target to bring all the primary schools in the country under internet facility by 2021 to make Digital Bangladesh, " he said.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her party's election manifesto in 2008 pledged to develop a digital Bangladesh by 2021.
Apart from infrastructure development, Mojumder said the press conference, which was arranged to brief journalists what the government has done in the past one year for making digital Bangladesh, that the country has already formulated its National Science and Technology Policy.
However, Munir Hasan, senior consultant of United Nations Development Program's Access to Information Program in Bangladesh, said the number of email account holders in the country leaped to 800,000 at the end of September this year from 300,000 at the end of December 2008.
He said the number of email account holders in Bangladesh will further rise as the mobile companies are expanding their network to rural areas helping people to contact their millions of relatives in abroad.
According to the statistics of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, the total number of mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh at the end of November stood at 50.55 million, about 31.2 percent of the country's total population. Source: CRI English Continue reading the rest...
"We've estimated that nearly 25 million people in the country are using 5 million internet connections mostly provided by the mobile operators on sharing basis," Mahfuzur Rahman, Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council under the science ministry, said in the press conference.
Rahman, also an additional secretary of the Bangladeshi government, said the number of internet users in the country is increasing yearly by around 0.3 percent.
Science secretary Mojumder, however, said the government has already established computer labs with internet and other modern facilities in all the 64 districts of the country as part of its efforts to educate young generation in Information and Communications Technology.
"We've set target to bring all the primary schools in the country under internet facility by 2021 to make Digital Bangladesh, " he said.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her party's election manifesto in 2008 pledged to develop a digital Bangladesh by 2021.
Apart from infrastructure development, Mojumder said the press conference, which was arranged to brief journalists what the government has done in the past one year for making digital Bangladesh, that the country has already formulated its National Science and Technology Policy.
However, Munir Hasan, senior consultant of United Nations Development Program's Access to Information Program in Bangladesh, said the number of email account holders in the country leaped to 800,000 at the end of September this year from 300,000 at the end of December 2008.
He said the number of email account holders in Bangladesh will further rise as the mobile companies are expanding their network to rural areas helping people to contact their millions of relatives in abroad.
According to the statistics of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, the total number of mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh at the end of November stood at 50.55 million, about 31.2 percent of the country's total population. Source: CRI English Continue reading the rest...
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Director of the UN CTED called on Dr. AK Abdul Momen
The Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) Mike Smith recently called on the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Dr. AK Abdul Momen to debrief on the “Regional workshop for police officers and prosecutors in South Asia on effectively countering terrorism”, held from 8-10 November 2009 in Dhaka.
Mr. Smith appreciated and thanked for the support provided by the Government of Bangladesh in organizing the workshop, which he termed, was “highly successful”. He further recalled with deep gratitude his meetings with senior government officials, particularly with the Ministers of Home Affairs, to discuss the prospect of establishing a regional centre for law enforcement cooperation in Bangladesh. In this regard, Mr. Smith indicated that a 3-member team, comprising one each from France, Denmark and Portugal, would visit Dhaka sometime in the middle of January 2010 to conduct a pre-feasibility assessment of the proposed centre for law enforcement cooperation. The CTED chief requested for an expedited decision from Bangladesh side in this regard. Bangladesh Permanent Representative assured Mr. Smith of full cooperation on the matter.
It may be recalled that the CTED Executive Director met with Foreign Minister on 28 September 2009 in the side line of 64th UN General Assembly Session. It may further be noted that the CTED conducted its first visit to Bangladesh from 3 to 10 June 2007 and submitted a comprehensive report with preliminary implementation assessment (PIA) including recommendations on the need for international cooperation and technical assistance for Bangladesh’s capacity building in effectively countering terrorism. The CTED also made a follow-up visit to Bangladesh, under the leadership of the Executive Director, from 19 to 21 April 2009.
Mr. Mohammad Khorshed A. Khastagir, First Secretary of this Mission and Mr. Christian Mahr, Legal Officer of CTED were also present in the meeting.
Mr. Smith appreciated and thanked for the support provided by the Government of Bangladesh in organizing the workshop, which he termed, was “highly successful”. He further recalled with deep gratitude his meetings with senior government officials, particularly with the Ministers of Home Affairs, to discuss the prospect of establishing a regional centre for law enforcement cooperation in Bangladesh. In this regard, Mr. Smith indicated that a 3-member team, comprising one each from France, Denmark and Portugal, would visit Dhaka sometime in the middle of January 2010 to conduct a pre-feasibility assessment of the proposed centre for law enforcement cooperation. The CTED chief requested for an expedited decision from Bangladesh side in this regard. Bangladesh Permanent Representative assured Mr. Smith of full cooperation on the matter.
It may be recalled that the CTED Executive Director met with Foreign Minister on 28 September 2009 in the side line of 64th UN General Assembly Session. It may further be noted that the CTED conducted its first visit to Bangladesh from 3 to 10 June 2007 and submitted a comprehensive report with preliminary implementation assessment (PIA) including recommendations on the need for international cooperation and technical assistance for Bangladesh’s capacity building in effectively countering terrorism. The CTED also made a follow-up visit to Bangladesh, under the leadership of the Executive Director, from 19 to 21 April 2009.
Mr. Mohammad Khorshed A. Khastagir, First Secretary of this Mission and Mr. Christian Mahr, Legal Officer of CTED were also present in the meeting.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
JS body for law on custodial death & torture
An all-party parliamentary body unanimously agreed to enact a law for preventing custodial deaths and torture by all law enforcing agencies, with a maximum death penalty.
The parliamentary standing committee on private members' bills and resolutions at its meeting Tuesday discussed a bill on prevention of custodial deaths and tortures, prepared by ruling Awami League's Saber Hossain Chowdhury.
Chowdhury in his bill proposed that if any person dies in custody or becomes victim of torture at the hands of law enforcing agencies, the perpetrators will be held responsible.
The bill also proposes death sentence for those responsible for deaths in custody. The minimum punishment for minor torture in custody is temporary suspension from service.
"We the MPs, irrespective of political identities, have approved the passage of the law to stop custodial deaths and tortures," Abdul Matin Khasru, the committee chairman, told bdnews24.com Tuesday evening after the meeting at parliament building.
"I support the bill as custodial deaths and tortures worry us and the common people alike," Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papiya, the lone member of the BNP at the committee, told bdnews24.com at parliament building.
The chairman said his committee will finalise its recommendations on the bill at its next meeting for further scrutiny.
As per the parliamentary practices, the bill will be tabled in parliament subjected to approval of speaker. The bill can only be passed in parliament if the treasury bench desires.
Otherwise, the private-member bill will be rejected by parliament after holding discussion on it.
"According to the bill, law enforcer charged with custodial deaths and tortures must have to prove their innocence," Khasru said.
According to Bangladesh's legal principle, the plaintiff must prove the accused persons guilty.
"I have inserted such provision for the accused to prove innocence as none other than the custodians are the witness of human rights violation in custody," Saber Hossain Chowdhury told bdnews24.com after the meeting.
He clarified that Bangladesh signed the UN convention against torture in 1998.
"Bangladesh is in obligation to enact such law in line with the UN convention," he said.
"The bill should be considered as a tool to establish rule of law, good governance and protect human rights".
Khasru said Saber's bill will also propose punishment for the instigators. Source: bdnews24.com Continue reading the rest...
The parliamentary standing committee on private members' bills and resolutions at its meeting Tuesday discussed a bill on prevention of custodial deaths and tortures, prepared by ruling Awami League's Saber Hossain Chowdhury.
Chowdhury in his bill proposed that if any person dies in custody or becomes victim of torture at the hands of law enforcing agencies, the perpetrators will be held responsible.
The bill also proposes death sentence for those responsible for deaths in custody. The minimum punishment for minor torture in custody is temporary suspension from service.
"We the MPs, irrespective of political identities, have approved the passage of the law to stop custodial deaths and tortures," Abdul Matin Khasru, the committee chairman, told bdnews24.com Tuesday evening after the meeting at parliament building.
"I support the bill as custodial deaths and tortures worry us and the common people alike," Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papiya, the lone member of the BNP at the committee, told bdnews24.com at parliament building.
The chairman said his committee will finalise its recommendations on the bill at its next meeting for further scrutiny.
As per the parliamentary practices, the bill will be tabled in parliament subjected to approval of speaker. The bill can only be passed in parliament if the treasury bench desires.
Otherwise, the private-member bill will be rejected by parliament after holding discussion on it.
"According to the bill, law enforcer charged with custodial deaths and tortures must have to prove their innocence," Khasru said.
According to Bangladesh's legal principle, the plaintiff must prove the accused persons guilty.
"I have inserted such provision for the accused to prove innocence as none other than the custodians are the witness of human rights violation in custody," Saber Hossain Chowdhury told bdnews24.com after the meeting.
He clarified that Bangladesh signed the UN convention against torture in 1998.
"Bangladesh is in obligation to enact such law in line with the UN convention," he said.
"The bill should be considered as a tool to establish rule of law, good governance and protect human rights".
Khasru said Saber's bill will also propose punishment for the instigators. Source: bdnews24.com Continue reading the rest...
Bangladesh seizes global spotlight
Bangladesh has drawn the attention of the global community during the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen through a successful 'climate diplomacy' under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
State Minister for Forests and Environment Hasan Mahmud said this yesterday, also acknowledging that the summit did not achieve the best possible outcome.
During a news briefing held at the ministry office the day after returning from Copenhagen, the state minister observed, "It cannot be said that Bangladesh is fully satisfied with the outcome of the conference.
"But it is more important that the world's major economies have agreed to work towards curbing global temperatures."
He commended the prime minister's efforts saying, "A successful climate diplomacy has been achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh has drawn the attention of the global community."
The state minister urged world leaders to reach a legally binding treaty during next year's COP-16, which will be held in Mexico.
Hasan Mahmud also took a swipe at the ex-prime minister and main opposition leader Khaleda Zia for what he described as a lack of knowledge about the government's approach to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
On December 17 Khaleda told a press conference, "Lobbying for handouts [at Copenhagen] is below our national dignity".
Hasan rejected her comment outright by saying, "Her advisers did not properly enlighten her about the global climate conference and she did not study the issues."
He added, "There is no question that Bangladesh went to attend the Copenhagen to beg."
Hasan said it was established during the summit that Bangladesh is the country most vulnerable to climate change and that it will therefore request 15 per cent of the $30 billion adaptation fund, which will become operational in January.
"We have boldly told the conference that we must receive compensation because we are not responsible for global warming," he said.
Hasan said he also expects further bilateral assistance from countries with whom Bangladesh has close ties.
The state minister said that the government could use the funds to set up a large number of cyclone shelter centres, to construct new coastal embankments and to repair 11,000 kilometres of embankments.
He gave the assurance that all the funds would be spent in a transparent manner.
Leading economist and environment specialist Dr Quazi Khaliquzzaman Ahmed also spoke during the briefing. Source: Daily Star Continue reading the rest...
State Minister for Forests and Environment Hasan Mahmud said this yesterday, also acknowledging that the summit did not achieve the best possible outcome.
During a news briefing held at the ministry office the day after returning from Copenhagen, the state minister observed, "It cannot be said that Bangladesh is fully satisfied with the outcome of the conference.
"But it is more important that the world's major economies have agreed to work towards curbing global temperatures."
He commended the prime minister's efforts saying, "A successful climate diplomacy has been achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh has drawn the attention of the global community."
The state minister urged world leaders to reach a legally binding treaty during next year's COP-16, which will be held in Mexico.
Hasan Mahmud also took a swipe at the ex-prime minister and main opposition leader Khaleda Zia for what he described as a lack of knowledge about the government's approach to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
On December 17 Khaleda told a press conference, "Lobbying for handouts [at Copenhagen] is below our national dignity".
Hasan rejected her comment outright by saying, "Her advisers did not properly enlighten her about the global climate conference and she did not study the issues."
He added, "There is no question that Bangladesh went to attend the Copenhagen to beg."
Hasan said it was established during the summit that Bangladesh is the country most vulnerable to climate change and that it will therefore request 15 per cent of the $30 billion adaptation fund, which will become operational in January.
"We have boldly told the conference that we must receive compensation because we are not responsible for global warming," he said.
Hasan said he also expects further bilateral assistance from countries with whom Bangladesh has close ties.
The state minister said that the government could use the funds to set up a large number of cyclone shelter centres, to construct new coastal embankments and to repair 11,000 kilometres of embankments.
He gave the assurance that all the funds would be spent in a transparent manner.
Leading economist and environment specialist Dr Quazi Khaliquzzaman Ahmed also spoke during the briefing. Source: Daily Star Continue reading the rest...
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dhaka awaits suitable timing for TIFA deal
Dhaka is looking for a suitable time for signing the proposed Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with Washington, trade diplomats have said confirming the government’s mindset for building economic partnership with the US. The prime minister’s office is now weighing probable implications at home and abroad of signing the long-pending agreement with the most powerful country in the world, said sources close to the office.
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, is expected to endorse a summary of draft agreement prepared by the commerce ministry for joining the final round of talks for signing the TIFA, but she is ‘buying time’ since the proposal was sent to her almost two months ago, said officials involved with the TIFA process.
A strategic analyst, however, suggested ‘bold step’ and transparency in the process of negotiations even with powerful countries on striking a deal such as TIFA, which was proposed in 2002. 'It is neither worthy nor feasible in today’s foreign policy pursuit to shy away from taking the required move,’ said Imtiaz Ahmad, a professor of International Relations at Dhaka University.
Washington, which earlier sent a draft of the framework agreement for Dhaka’s response to it, is waiting for formal reply from the government in joining conclusive talks.
‘At this point, we are still waiting for the Government of Bangladesh to provide formal comments on the draft we presented to them,’ an official of the US embassy in Dhaka told New Age, when asked about their latest position.
Sources in the commerce ministry said they might hold consultations, as suggested by the government high-ups, with the stakeholders on the issues of bargaining before joining the final talks with the US authorities.
‘But as far as I understand, it is hardly likely that a major decision like signing of TIFA would be taken before a crucial tour of India by the prime minister, especially in view of the government’s engagement in that visit,’ a source close to the prime minister’s office said.
The US officials were learnt to have expressed the hope that TIFA would be signed within this year. The visit of assistant US Trade Representative for South Asia Michael J Delaney created the platform for singing TIFA within the short span of time.
Asked about implications of joining trade and investment partnership with the US alongside greater negotiations with India, Imtiaz Ahmad said Bangladesh authorities should come out of its ‘small state’s’ mindset of not speaking openly during the negotiation process with bigger countries to uphold national interests.
‘The more the players [Bangladesh is engaged with], the better,’ the expert said adding that Dhaka should raise its issues and concerns at the table while negotiating with Washington and New Delhi.
He recommended that the verbal assurances from the US authorities about Bangladesh’s entitlements to facilities and concessions under the World Trade Organisation or any international conventions should be made part of the TIFA.
If signed, TIFA will pave the way for formation of a US-Bangladesh Joint Council as a platform for meeting at least once a year to discuss issues pertaining to trade and investment between the two countries. The two countries began TIFA talks in 2003.
Dhaka enjoys a significant trade surplus with Washington. America’s imports, mainly garments and frozen foods, from Bangladesh amounted to worth $3.7 billion in 2008 against export of $468 million the same year.
Source: Khawaza Main Uddin, New Age, December 22, 2009 Continue reading the rest...
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, is expected to endorse a summary of draft agreement prepared by the commerce ministry for joining the final round of talks for signing the TIFA, but she is ‘buying time’ since the proposal was sent to her almost two months ago, said officials involved with the TIFA process.
A strategic analyst, however, suggested ‘bold step’ and transparency in the process of negotiations even with powerful countries on striking a deal such as TIFA, which was proposed in 2002. 'It is neither worthy nor feasible in today’s foreign policy pursuit to shy away from taking the required move,’ said Imtiaz Ahmad, a professor of International Relations at Dhaka University.
Washington, which earlier sent a draft of the framework agreement for Dhaka’s response to it, is waiting for formal reply from the government in joining conclusive talks.
‘At this point, we are still waiting for the Government of Bangladesh to provide formal comments on the draft we presented to them,’ an official of the US embassy in Dhaka told New Age, when asked about their latest position.
Sources in the commerce ministry said they might hold consultations, as suggested by the government high-ups, with the stakeholders on the issues of bargaining before joining the final talks with the US authorities.
‘But as far as I understand, it is hardly likely that a major decision like signing of TIFA would be taken before a crucial tour of India by the prime minister, especially in view of the government’s engagement in that visit,’ a source close to the prime minister’s office said.
The US officials were learnt to have expressed the hope that TIFA would be signed within this year. The visit of assistant US Trade Representative for South Asia Michael J Delaney created the platform for singing TIFA within the short span of time.
Asked about implications of joining trade and investment partnership with the US alongside greater negotiations with India, Imtiaz Ahmad said Bangladesh authorities should come out of its ‘small state’s’ mindset of not speaking openly during the negotiation process with bigger countries to uphold national interests.
‘The more the players [Bangladesh is engaged with], the better,’ the expert said adding that Dhaka should raise its issues and concerns at the table while negotiating with Washington and New Delhi.
He recommended that the verbal assurances from the US authorities about Bangladesh’s entitlements to facilities and concessions under the World Trade Organisation or any international conventions should be made part of the TIFA.
If signed, TIFA will pave the way for formation of a US-Bangladesh Joint Council as a platform for meeting at least once a year to discuss issues pertaining to trade and investment between the two countries. The two countries began TIFA talks in 2003.
Dhaka enjoys a significant trade surplus with Washington. America’s imports, mainly garments and frozen foods, from Bangladesh amounted to worth $3.7 billion in 2008 against export of $468 million the same year.
Source: Khawaza Main Uddin, New Age, December 22, 2009 Continue reading the rest...
Notice of Clarification
“The November 12, 2009 posting on this site that referred to Ashrafuzzaman Khan as “a war criminal of Bangladesh” and as the “mastermind of intellectual killing of 1971” should have attributed those assertions to a story concerning Sangbad that appeared in the November 8, 2009 edition of the Bangla Daily. They were not the assertions of this website.
Continue reading the rest...
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Victory Day Celebrated at the Bangladesh Embassy of Bangladesh
Photo Credit: Shammem Haider
Victory Day was celebrated with colourful display of Bangladesh culture, utmost fan fare and festivity in the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington DC. Braving icy cold, an overflowing crowd of about 400 audience, comprising expatriate Bangladesh nationals (NRBs), US nationals, State Department official, members of US volunteers, academics, students, and members of Think Tanks etc. gathered to enjoy an hour long cultural programme at the Bangabandhu auditorium.
“Making a digital Bangladesh, which is free from corruption, poverty and militancy, is our resolve as nation recalls the sacrifices of the martyrs of liberation war under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”. This was stated by Mr. Dilip Barua, Minister for Industry, who spoke as Chief Guest. Mr.Barua chronicled the struggles and sacrifices of Bangabandhu through out his life and illustrated how well the torch of ideal and spirit was handed over to the incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not only to safeguard the interests of people of Bangladesh but also to lead them to a middle income Digital Bangladesh by 2021. Referring to December 2008 election, Mr.Barua assured the audience that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is determined to deliver a transparent and accountable government which is free from corruption and militancy.
Bangladesh Ambassador to USA and State Minister Mr. Akramul Qader paid his tribute to the valiant freedom fighters and millions of martyrs, who shed their lives for making Bangladesh a free nation under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Detailing on Bangabandhu’s utmost sacrifice for the people of Bangladesh, Ambassador Qader reiterated his faith in people of Bangladesh who always faced the anti-liberation forces with courage and fortitude. Ambassador Qader assured the audience that daughter of Bangabandhu, incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is well aware of high aspiration of people and narrated government’s determination for innovative solution to overcome the challenges of poverty, illiteracy and threat of extremism.
Among others, visiting guest Mrs. Sarah Kabori, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Mr. Oli Mohammed, Friends of the Liberation War Museum, USA, Ms. Sharmin Ahmed, daughter of Bangladesh’s first Prime Minister Taj Uddin Ahmed, Mr. Harun Choudhury, Freedom Fighter, writer and journalist, Mrs. Inara Islam, President, Bangladesh Association of America, Inc(BAAI) and Dr. William Greenough, Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, a great friend of Bangladesh, spoke on the occasion.
A cultural program presented by a set of local Bangladeshi artists-Droopad, Friends & Family and Bangladesh Center for Community Development, Inc (BCCDI) followed the discussion program. The colourful show visualized the pain of supreme sacrifice for the nation and the joy of gaining blood earned victory. Ms.Rifat Sultana Akram, wife of Ambassador Akramul Qader, delivered the Vote of Thanks at the end of the program. Embassy officials and members of their families also put up a segment in the show. Ms.Rasheda Rawnok Khan, famous TV artist and a member of Embassy family, Ministers Political Mr. Shameem Ahsan and Mr.Jashim Uddin earned the praise of audience in their lively presentations as Masters of Ceremony. Mr. Jamil Khan supervised the sound and lights.
Earlier in the day, as part of series of Victory Day programmes, Bangladesh national flag was ceremonially hoisted by His Excellency Ambassador Akramul Qader in presence of all the officials of the Embassy. Later messages from Hon’ble President and Hon’ble Prime Minister on the occasion of this auspicious day were read out. The day’s program concluded with a special prayer seeking for the salvation of the departed souls of our valiant freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the country in 1971.
As a part of Victory Day programs, a week long (up to 23 December 2009, including weekend, from 10 AM to 5.00 PM) Liberation War Museum Exhibition was also inaugurated in the Embassy at Bangabandhu auditorium by the Hon’ble Minister for Industries Mr. Dilip Barua. Embassy urges all, particularly children of expatriate nationals, friends of Bangladesh, academics and researchers’, to visit exhibition and witness the glorious past of Bangladesh’s heritage. The exhibition is free and open to all.
Source: Press Release Issued by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC. Continue reading the rest...
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Bangladesh Embassy will Celebrate Victory Day
Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC will celebrate the 38th anniversary of the great Victory Day of Bangladesh. As a part of the program, a discussion cum cultural function will be held at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Embassy (3510 International Drive, NW, Washington, DC- 20008) from 6pm - 8pm on Wednesday December 16, 2009. A week-long exhibition of the Liberation War Museum will begin at the embassy on the same day.
Mr. Dilip Barua, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Industries, Government of Bangladesh, will address the audience as the Chief Guest. All Bangladeshi nationals are cordially invited to attend the event. Embassy will also hold a week long Liberation War Museum Exhibition (Courtesy: Friends of the Liberation War Museum, USA) in its Bangabandhu Auditorium from December 16th through 23rd.
Continue reading the rest...
Mr. Dilip Barua, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Industries, Government of Bangladesh, will address the audience as the Chief Guest. All Bangladeshi nationals are cordially invited to attend the event. Embassy will also hold a week long Liberation War Museum Exhibition (Courtesy: Friends of the Liberation War Museum, USA) in its Bangabandhu Auditorium from December 16th through 23rd.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
