TEHRAN (Iran News) – Embassy Bangladesh in Tehran on Monday held a reception and ceremony at Parsian Azadi Hotel to mark the 49th independence and national day.
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Tehran H.E. Gousal Azam Sarker and his wife Mrs. Sadia Azam hosted this ceremony where Head of Export Markets Development of Iran Trade Promotion Organization Ahmad-Reza Alaei Tabatabaei was the distinguished guest.
Addressing the distinguished guests in his speech, Mr. Sarker first highlighted major achievements of his country since the independence of the country in 1971 when the country gained independence under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He said that 26 March, Bangladesh’s Independence and National Day, is indeed an occasion of celebration for us. He noted that it assumed special significance this time as we are celebrating the Birth Centenary of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of our Independence. However, we are holding this event in Tehran little late due to Nowruz and Ramadan, he added.
The ambassador stated that as Bangladesh made an independent journey of half a century, the Golden Jubilee coincides with the Vision 2021 of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of transforming the country into a digital middle-income Bangladesh. He add that Bangladesh is thus set on track for her second Vision – 2041 of transforming the nation into a developed one – in realization of the dream of Golden Bengal of the Father of the Nation – the dream of a happy and prosperous Bangladesh.
Mr. Sarker then said that the country has started a confident journey of a developing nation by reducing poverty successfully, from 43% in 1991 to below 14% last year raising per capita income more than three and half folds to 2500 dollars within her last 13 year governance. He reiterated that GDP growth continued uninterrupted at 6% plus for decades reaching 8.15% in 2018-19, the highest in Asia, adding that although the pandemic brought it down to 5.2% growth, it is expected to cross 6% this year.
He also pointed to some more achievements of the country under PM Sheikh Hasina.
Sarker then touched upon ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran and said that Bangladesh maintains traditional bond of friendship and brotherliness cultural ties of which are rooted in millennia long people to people contacts, commonalities and an immense fund of goodwill for each other. Although it does not match with huge potentials, trade is going on uninterrupted, he added.
The diplomat went on to say that his country is working on connectivity and Tourism to take trade and investment at higher levels, adding that cooperation of the two countries in the areas of education, culture and sports are going on. Iranian experts are providing their services in important fields in Bangladesh at ever increasing scale.
He then pointed to the close cooperation of Dhaka and Tehran in several international bodies and organizations and expressed hope this close and amicable relation would get warmer through more joint co-operations.
The ceremony also witnessed performance of some Bangladeshi music bands who sang some Bangla songs.
Caption: Ambassador of Bangladesh Gousal Azam Sarker, accompanied by his wife Mrs. Sadia Azam and Head of Export Markets Development of Iran Trade Promotion Organization Ahmad-Reza Alaei Tabatabaei, cuts the special cake to mark the day
