Bangladesh National Flag Raised at the University of Northampton, UK to Mark Independence Day

Shahidul Islam, Reporter:

To commemorate the 55th anniversary of Bangladesh’s Independence Day, the national flag of Bangladesh was raised on Sunday, 29 March, at the campus of the University of Northampton in the United Kingdom. The event was jointly organised by the Northampton British-Bangladeshi Business Chamber and the University of Northampton.
On Sunday afternoon at the university’s Waterside Campus, the national flag was raised by the Chief Guest, Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire James Saunders-Watson, alongside Councillor Naz Islam, Chair of the Northampton British-Bangladeshi Business Chamber. Other distinguished guests included Councillor Jane Birch, Mayor of Northampton, Lord Rami Ranger, freedom fighter M A Malek Khan, and members of the British-Bangladeshi community.
The Chief Guest, Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire James Saunders-Watson, said:
“Approximately 15,000 British Bangladeshis live in Northampton, and the British-Bangladeshi community has made significant contributions to mainstream British society. I am truly delighted to be at the University of Northampton today and to take part in the Independence Day celebrations of Bangladesh by raising the flag.”
Councillor Naz Islam, Chair of the British-Bangladeshi Business Chamber, said:
“For the past five years, the University of Northampton and the Northampton British-Bangladeshi Business Chamber have jointly organised the national flag-raising programme on the occasion of Bangladesh’s Independence Day at the university campus. This day is a historic and proud moment for us, and through such initiatives we have the opportunity to share our glorious history with the new generation of British Bangladeshis and the wider international community.”
Following the flag-raising ceremony, a discussion and award presentation programme was held at the university’s Senate Building to mark Independence Day. This year, 17 distinguished individuals were honoured with special awards for their contributions to the community.
The event, hosted by Mohammad Mujibur Rahman, Secretary of the British-Bangladeshi Business Chamber, also featured welcome speeches by Selim Hossain MBE, owner of Euro Foods, Tipu Rahman, Vice Chairman of the organisation, Prince Sadik Chowdhury, Treasurer, Councillor Tarun Miah, Yusuf Raja Chowdhury, Mohammad Ali, Abu Monsur, Abdus Shahid, Jamal Uddin, Jilla Miah, and Akhtar Hossain, among other invited guests.
At the event, a special documentary on Bangladesh’s Liberation War titled “Bangladesh: A Birth of a Nation”, scripted and presented by Tanvir Ahmed, Editor-in-Chief of Politika News, was screened, highlighting the heroism and atrocities of 1971.
The organisers stated that in the coming years, the event will be expanded further to engage the British-Bangladeshi community on a larger scale.