Brussels is full of `Joy Bangla` slogans

The Great Independence and National Day has been celebrated at the initiative of the Bangladesh Embassy in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Ambassador Mahbub Hasan Saleh presided over it. The program was conducted by Kaniz Fatema, First Secretary of the Embassy.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, Director General (Bilateral Affairs) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Ambassador Jeroen Kurman, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service Enrique Mora and Nahim Razzak MP were present as guests.

State Minister of Foreign Affairs. In his speech, Shahriar Alam wished everyone a great Independence and National Day and said that the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Belgium last year and Bangladesh and the European Union this year has brought a different dimension to today's event. Bangladesh and the European Union's 5-decade relationship has evolved from an economic cooperative relationship to a trade and investment-based relationship. In this regard, he thanked the European Union by mentioning that the 'Everything But Arms' scheme of the European Union has made an important contribution to the socio-economic development of Bangladesh. He mentioned that the progressing relations between Belgium and Bangladesh will be more integrated through 'bilateral consultations'.

Deputy Secretary General Enrique Mora said, Bangladesh, which suffered severely during the liberation war, has now become a strong economy and regional power by achieving much more than expected. He also mentioned the continued cooperation of the European Union by thanking Bangladesh for providing shelter to more than one million Rohingya victims of torture in the neighboring country Myanmar with great generosity.

Ambassador Jeroen Kurman said, in view of the growing relations between Belgium and Bangladesh, on May 4 (Thursday), for the first time, 'Bilateral Consultations' were held between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries. He also said that Bangladesh and Belgium are working closely to elevate the relationship between the two countries to new heights.

In his speech, the ambassador said, gratefully recalling the contribution of foreign countries, governments and friends in Bangladesh's liberation war, the mature and growing partnership relationship between Bangladesh and the European Union is rising to a new height. He mentioned that it is a rare honor and glory for him to serve as ambassador and head of mission in Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union during the historical period when Bangladesh is rising from a less developed country to a developing country under the strong and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Ambassador Mahbub Hasan Saleh referred to the context of the liberation war and requested the guests present at the event to chant the national slogan of Bangladesh 'Joy Bangla' while paying deep respect to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

At this time, the traditional Cercle Royal Gelua Center of Brussels erupted with the slogan 'Joy Bangla' three times with the spontaneous participation of more than three hundred guests present in the event, including more than two hundred guests from different countries of the world.

Then Md. Shahriar Alam, MP, Jeroen Kurman, Enrique Mora, Nahim Razzak, MP and Mahbub Hasan Saleh celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the European Union by cutting the cake with the guests. In addition, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Suzan Patiekh, a Belgian citizen working in the Bangladesh Embassy for 37 years and the oldest member of the embassy. Shahriar Alam presented the special award.

Senior officials of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various institutions of the European Union, diplomats, members of the European Parliament, Belgian politicians, media, think tanks, academia, representatives of Brussels-based international organizations and dignitaries of the Bangladesh community living in Belgium and Luxembourg participated as guests in the event.

The event was concluded by serving traditional Bangladeshi food and sweets including kacchi biryani to the arriving guests.

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