The Bangladesh High Commission in Port Louis, Mauritius, has observed the 55th Independence and National Day of Bangladesh with profound pride, festivity, and enthusiasm.
The milestone anniversary, marked on 26 March, was marked by a series of events, culminating in a prestigious reception hosted at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Port Louis, according to a press release.
The event was graced by the presence of President of the Republic of Mauritius, Dharambeer Gokhool, GCSK, who attended as the chief guest.
He was accompanied by several other high-ranking Mauritian officials, including the Vice-President, Jean Yvan Robert Hungley, GOSK, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Dhananjay Ramful.
The day’s proceedings commenced in the morning at “Bangladesh House,” where the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Mauritius, Dr Zokey Ahad, PhD, formally performed the hoisting of the national flag.
The ceremony was attended by all officials and staff of the mission, who joined together to sing the national anthem in unison to mark the start of the national celebrations.
Later in the day, the grand reception at the Islamic Cultural Centre served as the focal point of the diplomatic festivities. The venue was elaborately decorated for the occasion, featuring colourful lighting, banners, festoons, and posters that reflected the national spirit.
High Commissioner Dr Zokey Ahad, acting as the High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, welcomed a wide array of distinguished guests.
The gathering also included a notable assembly of the Mauritian leadership, such as the Speaker of the National Assembly, Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra; the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Bibi Rehana Mungly-Gulbul; and the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Muhammad Reza Cassam Uteem.
Also in attendance were the Electoral Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius, MI Abdool Rahman, along with three former Presidents and one former Vice-President of the Republic.
The formal segment of the evening began with a traditional toast proposed by the President of Mauritius to the President and the people of Bangladesh. In a reciprocal gesture, High Commissioner Dr Ahad proposed a toast to the President and the people of Mauritius. The Police Band of Mauritius then performed the national anthems of both countries in accordance with the sequence of the toasts.
Following these official protocols, the High Commissioner delivered a comprehensive statement to the assembly. A significant highlight of the ceremonial portion was the joint cutting of a commemorative cake by High Commissioner Dr Ahad, President Gokhool, and Foreign Minister Ramful.
In his keynote address, High Commissioner Dr Ahad detailed the attractive investment scenario currently offered by Bangladesh, describing the nation as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. He noted that having maintained rapid growth for over a decade, Bangladesh is well on its way to becoming the next “Asian Tiger.”
To facilitate this, the government has implemented more than 100 Economic Zones, including provisions for private economic zones. Dr Ahad emphasised that the government provides full support for these ventures, including the provision of land and essential utilities.
He specifically drew attention to an exclusive zone for foreign investors located within the 1,000-acre Sabrang tourism park in Cox’s Bazar.
Turning to bilateral relations, the High Commissioner extended his gratitude to President Dharambeer Gokhool for the Republic’s continued support of the Bangladeshi expatriate community in Mauritius.
He highlighted that Bangladeshi workers play a vital role in the Mauritian economy and commended the local government for protecting the rights of all workers within its borders.
On matters of international diplomacy, Dr Ahad reiterated that Bangladesh stands in favour of establishing the freedom and rights of the people of the Chagos Archipelago, supporting their voice for a just cause.
He further expressed his appreciation to Mauritius for its consistent and steadfast support regarding the Rohingya issue.
Emphasising the historical, political, and cultural ties between the two nations, he expressed his wish for the “Mauritius-Bangladesh friendship and brotherhood to live forever.”
He also spoke on the theme of religious harmony, noting that while the two nations differ in demography, both maintain a strong tradition of religious diversity.
During the reception, the High Commissioner also reached out to the gathered diplomatic corps, requesting their support in conveying news of Bangladesh’s candidacy for the Presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to their respective governments.
The evening featured a strong cultural and commemorative element.
A documentary film titled ‘Notun Surjoo’ (New Sun) was screened for the guests. Furthermore, the reception included a special exhibition of posters and photographs that highlighted pivotal moments from the mass movement of July-August 2024.
The cultural atmosphere was enhanced by performances of Bangla folk songs by Bangladeshi expatriates living in Mauritius.
The event was attended by approximately 350 guests, a diverse group comprising cabinet members, members of the National Assembly, the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organisations, and leaders from the business community and chambers of commerce.
Members of the civil society, media personnel, and the local Bangladeshi community were also present, alongside the staff of the High Commission.
As the evening concluded, guests were entertained with a wide variety of foods that were highly appreciated by those in attendance. As a token of appreciation, attendees were presented with attractive jute bags containing Bangladeshi food products and tourism publications.
The successful event received extensive coverage across both print and electronic media platforms in Mauritius.
