Doha, 02 May 2023 (QT)
By Ashraf Siddiqui

Under the wise leadership of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar has become an exemplary success story in the development, diplomacy and sports sectors, as well as in promoting international and regional peace and stability, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar Md Nazzrul Islam has said.

The ambassador was addressing a gala reception to celebrate Bangladesh’s 52nd Independence Day in the presence of Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani; Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro; diplomats and members of the Bangladesh community.

The envoy said Qatar has made remarkable strides in different areas of development to achieve the goals under Qatar National Vision 2030, while the successful hosting of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is just another testimonial of Qatar’s limitless ambition and capacity.
Ambassador Nazzrul Islam added that bilateral relations between the two countries have grown from strength to strength in diverse sectors in recent years as Bangladesh and Qatar work closely together on global issues like climate change, combating terrorism and extremism, health and education under the UN platform.

He said, “Bangladesh Prime Minister recently paid a visit to Qatar in March and she is again happy to come to attend the Qatar Economic Forum in May 2023. Two rounds of Foreign Office consultations have taken place during the last four years.
We have completed a defence agreement this year as well. All these have rightly paved the way for the forthcoming visit to Bangladesh by the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.”

Paying homage to the father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his visionary leadership in achieving the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the envoy said in the last decade, Bangladesh has continued to stay on track to achieve the goals set in the SDG 2030 global agenda and the national vision 2041.
He said Bangladesh graduated from the Least Developing Country (LDC) status two years ago as the country celebrated the golden jubilee of its independence. In the last one decade, Bangladesh, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, became the ‘development miracle’ through enviable socio-economic progress.
“We are now the 34th largest economy in the world and by 2030, we are set to become the 25th largest economy. Women have been mainstreamed in national development and economic activities. Political stability, able leadership, strategic investment in digitisation, technological innovation, connectivity, education and skill development have been the mainstay of our development journey. The unique Delta-Plan 2100 aims to create a prosperous and climate resilient delta for our future generations,” he added.

Speaking about Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, he said a large population of Myanmar citizens, who escaped inhuman persecution by the Myanmar military, are hosted in a temporary shelter in his country, adding that Bangladesh has received global acclamation for its significant role in the UN peacekeeping missions.
He added that around 400,000 Bangladeshi expatriates consider Qatar as their second home under the kindness of HH the Amir and the government of Qatar.
“We are happy to present today before you a few traditional cultural items like songs and dances performed by Bangladeshi children and amateur singers,” he said.

Around 13 students of Bangladesh School displayed colourful traditional cultural dance and a local Bangladeshi community music band Srabon artistes entertained the guests with national songs on the occasion. Among the artistes were guitarist and vocal Amin Rasul Saiful; Mujib I’d Dowla on drum; Pnytom Dutta on Bass; Sohel Ahmed on keyboard; guitarist Tanjhim Hassan; vocalist Dr Shahadat Hossain and vocalist James Anick.