The Bangladesh Consulate General in Toronto has celebrated the 101st birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with Canadian ministers and politicians.
March 17 is also the National Children Day.
Norm Miller, MPP and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Ontario graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Jodi Banks, Deputy Minister of Trade and Export Development of Saskatchewan was the guest of honour. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Deputy Premier of Manitoba Kelvin Goertzen gave special messages on the occasion.
The programme was attended by high officials of the Provincial governments of Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, diplomats, Canadian friends, and Bangladesh diaspora.
Among the other distinguished speakers were Jon Reyes, MLA and Special Envoy for Military Affairs of Manitoba; Anish Dwivedi, Special Advisor to the Premier of Ontario; Kara Rawson, Chief of Protocol of Ontario; Shannon Haggarty, Chief of the Protocol of Alberta; Lucy Lobmeier, Chief of Protocol of British Columbia; James Ramer, Chief of the Toronto Police Service;Amin Miah, President, Bangabandhu Parishad, Canada, Mostafa Kamal, President, Ontario Awami League, Syed Hossain Mona, Veteran Freedom Fighter and Muntaka Ahmed, President of University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU).
In their messages, Ontario Premier and Manitoba Deputy Premier congratulated Bangladesh on the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independence of Bangladesh.
They look forward to working closely with Bangladesh to further strengthen the relationship.
Norm Miller congratulated Bangladesh on the birth centenary of Bangabandhu and looked forward to a long and collaborative relation with Bangladesh especially in the areas of trade and investment.
Consul General Nayem Uddin Ahmed in his speech said Bangabandhu’s legacy of struggle and sacrifice for the emancipation of the oppressed people goes beyond the border and is a great source of inspiration for the freedom-loving people throughout the world.
Earlier, in the morning Consul General hoisted the national flag at the Bangladesh House to begin the day’s programme and later in the afternoon the virtual celebration took place.
Messages from the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the State minister for Foreign Affairs were also read out and documentaries on Bangabandhu were screened.
A wreath was placed at the portrait of Bangabandhu and a special cake was cut to celebrate the birth anniversary of Bangabandhu.
To mark the National Children’s Day, the Consulate General sponsored a short film titled “NacherPutul”, which was screened during the event.
The programme ended with a brief cultural program.
