Ted Kennedy Jr to speak at DU today
Edward (Ted) M Kennedy, Jr, son of late US Senator Edward M Kennedy and nephew of late US President John F Kennedy, will deliver a public speech on "Commemoration of 50 years of US-Bangladesh Relations" at Dhaka University today.
The US Ambassador Peter D Haas and Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman will be present during the landmark speech to be delivered at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.
Under the auspices of the US Department of State's Speakers Program, Kennedy will give the speech to commemorate the legacy of his father as a staunch advocate for Bangladesh's fight for independence and will visit the banyan tree his father planted to symbolize the friendship between the United States and Bangladesh.
"During my upcoming visit to Dhaka, my family and I will honour the 50th Anniversary of my father's pivotal role in the Bangladeshi struggle for independence," Kennedy tweeted before arriving here.
Ted's father, the then US senator Edward M Kennedy took a bold stance against the genocide committed by Pakistan during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 despite the US government's tilled down foreign policy towards West Pakistan.
The Pakistan military administration under General Yahya Khan tried to suppress information regarding the genocide in Bangladesh launched on the night of March 25, 1971.
But Edward Kennedy exposed the brutality of the Pakistani occupation forces to the world communities after his visit to the refugee camps in India in August 1971.
Edward Kennedy planted a banyan tree at the famous "Bottola" on the Dhaka University campus during his visit to the newly born Bangladesh in 1972.
As a lawyer and advocate for the civil rights of individuals with disabilities, he will also deliver a lecture on the rights of challenged people at the Edward M Kennedy Centre for Public Service and the Arts here.
The US Embassy in Dhaka termed the visit as "historic" while Edward M Kennedy, Jr along with his family members arrived here on Saturday for a week.
His accompanying family members included Dr Katherine "Kiki" Kennedy (wife), Dr Kiley Kennedy (daughter), Teddy Kennedy (son), Grace Kennedy Allen (niece), and Max Allen (nephew).