Bangladesh Community in the Netherlands Marks the Birth Anniversary of Bangabandhu
17 March 2017, The Hague: Children of the Bangladesh community in the Netherlands had a chance to express their affection to their beloved leader on his birthday. An elaborate programme was undertaken at the Embassy of Bangladesh, The Hague to observe the 98th birthday of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day 2017 involving the members of the Bangladesh community today. A good number of the members of the Bangladesh community including the leaders/members of Holland Awami League participated in the programme.
In the discussion the speakers paid their deep tribute to the founder father of the country. Senior community personality Shamsul Huq highlighted on the sacrifices Bangabandhu made throughout his life and urged all to take lesson from those examples. Netherlands Awami League leaders Shahdat Hossain and Murad Khan recalled the legendary leadership of Bangabandhu and urged all to work together for the achieve vision 2021 under able leadership of his daughter.
Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, in his extempore remarks, attempted to describe how resolute he was in the question of protecting the rights of Bengali nation yet how modest he was to his senior leaders. Ambassador went on to discuss why Bangabandhu is known as the “Poet of Politics”. During the speech Ambassador had a copy of Bangabandhu’s “The Unfinished Memoirs” in his hand which, according to him, a “must read” for all of us. Ambassador Belal attributed the children attending the programme as the special guests and appreciated the way they are growing up embracing Bangabandhu’s life as a role model.
The main attraction of the programme was the painting and quiz competition arranged for the children of the community following the open discussion on the life sketch of Bangabandhu. Prompt and sharp response of the children in the quiz competition showed that they also follow the life history of Bangabandhu and the history of Bangladesh quite closely in spite of living thousands of miles away from home. A cultural program also followed the discussion where children of the community displayed their enormous talents by singing songs and reciting poem.
The programme of the day started by recitation from holy religious scripts. A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for the eternal peace of souls of Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman and his family members and for the peace and prosperity of the country. Messages of Hon’ble President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister of Foreign Affairs received on this special occasion were read out.
At the end of the programme, prizes were distributed by Madam Dr. Dilruba Nasrin amongst the children participated in painting and quiz competitions. She cut a birthday cake of Bangabandhu along with all the children and shared a piece with them. All children and guests were served with dinner after the ceremony.