UsaNewsOnline.com: Consulate General of Bangladesh in New York observed the 45^th Independence and National Day on 26th March 2015 at the Chancery. The programmes began at 9:30 am with the hoisting of the National Flag at the Chancery in the presence of the officers and officials of the Consulate. Messages from the Honorable President, Honorable Prime Minister, Honorable Foreign Minister and Honorable State Minister for Foreign Affairs were read out on the occasion. A special Munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of those who had made supreme sacrifices to achieve country’s independence in 1971 and for the peace, prosperity and continued progress for the country and its people.

As a part of the celebratory activities, a reception was held at the Auditorium of the Consulate in the evening. It started with the playing of the national anthems of Bangladesh and the USA. In his welcome remarks, Mr. Md. Shameem Ahsan, ndc, Consul General paid rich tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and martyrs of 1971. He also paid respect to the women who were violated brutally and tortured during the war. The Consul General recalled the contribution of the people in New York with special reference to George Harrison and Ravi Shankar for the Concert for Bangladesh at the Maddison Square Garden, New York who stood for the cause of Bangladesh’s independence. US representatives also spoke on the occasion. The event marked a cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate the Day.

Senior US Government officials, Consuls General of a good number of countries, diplomats, Assemblymen, Councilmen from New York and other States, Congressional Staffers, members of the Think Tank, businessmen, journalists and a large number of the members of Bangladesh Diaspora attended the reception, among others.

The guests were served with traditional Bangladeshi food.