British MPs, diplomats celebrate Bangladesh’s 'dramatic progress' in last 14 years
British parliamentarians, politicians and diplomats celebrated the successes of Bangladesh during the launch of a report by Study Circle London, a UK-based research organisation, in London on Wednesday.
The report, "Bangladesh: The Journey of Indomitable Development", highlights the vast array of sectors in which Bangladesh has seen dramatic progress over the last 14 years, including the economy, interfaith harmony, education, health, and infrastructure.
A cross-party group of leading politicians, as well as diplomats and community leaders, attended the event in the House of Lords' Attlee Room a day after the February 21 commemoration of Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day.
Launching the report, Study Circle Chairperson Syed Mozammel Ali, who was gazetted as a freedom fighter for his advocacy for Bangladesh's independence in the UK in 1971, noted Bangladesh's tremendous economic growth.
At 6.9 percent last year, the growth outstripped even the so-called "tiger" economies of South Korea and Singapore. Ali quipped that, given Bangladesh has 10 percent of the world's tigers, the country should be championed as the "Bengal Tiger economy".
He went on to detail numerous achievements of Bangladesh, including its climate leadership and support for Rohingya refugees. He talked about the deep ties between the UK and Bangladesh, particularly the British Bangladeshi diaspora and the 8,000 Bangladeshi-owned restaurants, which he said was like having "a high commission on every high street".
Bangladesh's High Commissioner to the UK, Her Excellency Saida Muna Tasneem, said, "This is an empirical, evidence-based publication on Bangladesh's development journey under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."
The event was also an early outing for the UK's High Commissioner-designate to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, who will be replacing current British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton-Dixon after Ramadan in late April.
Another speaker was Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, Rushanara Ali, who is also the UK prime minister's trade envoy to Bangladesh, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Bangladesh, and the first UK MP of Bangladeshi descent. She said, "This report highlights that Bangladesh has achieved a great deal. As British Bangladeshis, we are all really proud of Bangladesh's development."
Conservative peer Lord Popat, another of the prime minister's trade envoys, and vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Commonwealth, said, "What a transformation of a country in such a short time … the incredible story that is Bangladesh, now one of the fastest growing economies in the world, what an achievement."
Chief guest Gowher Rizvi, international affairs advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, "Today we are on a real path of progress. One reason for Bangladesh's concrete development is it has had political stability and continuity."
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's achievements in promoting inter-communal harmony were particularly celebrated. Fiona Bruce MP, the UK prime minister's special envoy for freedom of religion or belief, and Jim Shannon MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary group for international freedom of religion or belief, joined the launching ceremony.
Rizvi invited Shannon to visit Bangladesh to see the inter-religious harmony for himself.
Conservative MP for Northfield Gary Sambrook, and Labour MP for Brent Central Dawn Butler, were also among the guests, as were London Assembly Members Marina Ahmad and Unmesh Desai. A significant number of local councillors of Bangladeshi heritage, including Mayor of Camden Nasim Ali, Brent Councillor Parvez Ahmed and Camden councillors Samata Khatoon and Shah Miah attended the event. Former London Assembly Member Murad Qureshi and former Camden councillor Abdul Hai were also present.
The event received well wishes from many other parliamentarians, including Labour's Shadow Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Catherine West MP.
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