‘Bangladesh Development Fair’ in New York showcases development trajectory

Bangladesh Development Fair, held at Consulate General’s auditorium in New York, has attracted huge crowd of Bangladeshi Diaspora and a good number of foreign guests.

The event was organized jointly by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations and Bangladesh Consulate General, New York on Friday.

Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu, Under Secretary-General and High Representative, United Nations Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS was the chief guest of the event while Dr. Selim Jahan, Director, Human Development Report Office, UNDP and Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General of India in New York joined as special guests.

Notable among the invited guests were Senior Economic Affairs Officer of the Committee for Development Policy of UN Matthias Bruckner, Chief of Humanitarian Field Support of UNICEF Sara Bordas-Eddy, Program Manager of United Nations Capital Development Fund JafferMachano, Chairman of US-Bangladesh Global Chamber of Commerce Aziz Ahmad, Senior advisor to the US Bangladesh Global Chamber of Commerce Savio Chan, Mohamed Hack, Acting President of US Awami League Mohammed Shamsuddin Azad, Community Coordinator of Queens Borough President and Thahitun Mariam, Community Associate of New York City Mayor’s Office.

A number of senior diplomats of various Permanent Missions were also in attendance, said a press release on Saturday.

The event began with the screening of documentaries showcasing an ‘Indomitable Bangladesh’ and its development  trajectory.

The cultural segment featured a dance number performed by a renowned local cultural group ‘Nrittanjali’ paying tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and martyrs of Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

They also danced to the tune of popular patriotic songs.

Recitation of Bangla poem by expatriate artist SAM Muktadir and several Bangladeshi songs rendered by Sree Chinmoy Group were other highlights of the cultural programme which enthralled the audience.

Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu projected the resolute development journey of Bangladesh and highlighted various achievements of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government such as robust economic growth, strong national ownership, leadership, planning & implementation capacities, institutions, rapid industrialization & economic diversification.

She said, “Bangladesh is now branded as ‘one of Asia’s most remarkable success stories”.

Permanent Representative Ambassador Masud Bin Momen said Bangladesh, emerging like a phoenix from the ashes of a bloody War of Liberation, is currently considered to be one of the developing world's greatest success stories.

He also highlighted Bangladesh’s successes at the United Nations in various fields.

Consul General of Bangladesh Sadia Faizunnesa said, “I just want to flag to you all on what did our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh MujiburRahman meant by ‘Sonar Bangla’. Sonar Bangla is not only increase of per capita income of people, it’s a bottom-up approach of inclusive Development. It is about people’s progress, people’s enlightenment and people’s empowerment”.

She thanked expatriate Bangladeshi for contributing country’s development and urged to invest more in the development of Bangladesh.

Highlighting comparative development indicators between Bangladesh and others south Asian Countries Dr. SelimJahan, Director of Human Development Report Office of UNDP mentioned Bangladesh's development is unprecedented among all of its neighbors.

Mentioning Bangladesh as an important development partner and the closest neighbor, Consul General of India in New York Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty said, “India would always stand besides Bangladesh’s development. Bangladesh is an example for not only south Asia but for the entire world. This has been possible due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s foresight and stewardship”.

Source: unb