The Bangladeshi community celebrated country’s 48th anniversary of Independence and National Day in a grand reception hosted by the embassy of Bangladesh at Grand Hyatt Hotel on March 26.
The reception started with the national anthems of Qatar and Bangladesh. Qatari dignitaries along with the Ambassador also cut a cake to mark the celebrations.
Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhro, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H E Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi; and a number of high-ranking Qatari officials, members of diplomatic corps, prominent Qatari businessmen, and members of Bangladeshi community in Qatar attended the reception.
Addressing the gathering, Ashud Ahmed, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar said that Bangladesh was still young as a country.
“This year, we celebrate the 48th anniversary of our independence. By this time, we have accomplished a number of achievements that make us feel proud as a nation. Once named as ‘a bottomless basket’, Bangladesh is now acclaimed by the international community as a role model for development in the world,” the Ambassador added.
On bilateral ties, Ahmed said that Bangladesh and Qatar had been enjoying excellent bilateral relations, which were deeply rooted in shared history, culture, values and common faith.
“Our brotherly relations have grown in depth and dimensions over the years. Trade, investment, and tourism are potential areas the two countries are currently looking at for mutual benefit of the people of two brotherly countries.”
“We are looking forward to holding the single country trade fair ‘Made in Bangladesh’ in Doha later this year in collaboration with Bangladesh Forum Qatar, Qatar Chamber, and Qatar Financial Centre,” the Ambassador added.
Later talking to The Peninsula, Ashud Ahmed said that trade fair ‘Made in Bangladesh’ would be held in October 2019. “The preparations are underway to hold the fair and we hope that a large number of Bangladeshi companies will showcase their products and services in the fair,” he added.
He further said that next two years 2020 and 2021 would be very busy in which an array of cultural activities would be organised in Qatar by the embassy.
He said that on the occasion of 100th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on March 17 next year (2020), the government of Bangladesh would hold many mega programs all over the world including in Qatar.
Ahmed said that in 2021, Bangladesh would celebrate golden jubilee (50th anniversary) of its independence.
To another question, the Ambassador said that Qatar and Bangladesh were working on a number of bilateral agreements that would be finalized in near future. “A high level official delegation from Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to visit Bangladesh in next few days to discuss ways of boosting cooperation between Qatar and Bangladesh,” he added.
The Ambassador at the Independence and National Day reception said that Bangladesh was importing LNG from Qatar under the long term LNG agreement signed two years ago. He said that the Investment Seminar organized by Bangladesh Forum Qatar in 2018 was a great success.
The Ambassador said that Bangladesh was now positioned in the comity of nations as the 36th largest economy and a responsible member of the United Nations.
