Report by Humayun Kabir from Lisbon Portugal.
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Lisbon celebrated the 53rd Victory Day on December 16, 2024, with a vibrant event. The morning session of the event began with the hoisting of the national flag of Bangladesh by the Charge d’Affaires at the Chancery, Ms. Laila Muntajeri Deena, in the presence of all the embassy officials.
In the second session of the afternoon program, embassy officials, families, leaders, and members of the Bangladeshi community, students, journalists, and cultural figures were present in colorful attire. Later, A minute of silence was observed in memory of all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in 1971 and those who died in the student-people’s movement of 2024.
Apart from ,A special prayer was offered to honor the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the youth who gave their lives during the historic nation-wide anti-discrimination movement of July-August 2024 .
Later Messages from the President, the Chief Adviser, and the Foreign Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government were read out reflecting the nation’s achievements and aspirations. . In addition, a documentary film made on the day received from the Directorate of Information and Broadcasting was screened.
In the discussion, highlighting the significance of Victory Day, students living in Lisbon, prominent Bangladeshi citizens and community leaders welcomed the reform steps taken by the current government of Bangladesh and expressed their strong determination to play a strong role in making Bangladesh a non-discriminatory, a developed and prosperous country in the future.
While delivering a constructive and informative speech at the event, Mr. Humayun Kabir, Foreign and Diplomatic Affairs Correspondent in Europe and Editor-in-Chief of Today’s World News 24, said, Now more than ever before The counselor service of the Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon has improved and become much more dynamic, which is truly commendable.
If such services continue in the days to come, the Bangladeshi expatriates in the three countries under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Embassy in Portugal, namely Portugal, Mozambique and Cape Verde, would be greatly benefited and the Bangladesh Embassy in Portugal would become an exemplary institution for other embassies in Europe.
Apart from , in the greatest interest of Bangladesh’s development, diplomatic efforts with European Countries should be further strengthened to improve bilateral relations, including trade facility , education, recruitment of skilled workers in various European countries, foreign direct investment, GSP+ and cultural exchange.
The Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires, Ms. Laila Muntajeri Deena paid tribute to the sacrifices of the 1971 martyrs and the youth-led anti-discrimination movement of 2024. She reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to building a prosperous, equitable society free from exploitation and autocracy. She also highlighted Bangladesh’s achievements in climate resilience and sustainable development and shared recent Embassy milestones.
A colorful cultural program was organized at the end of the event. The event’s cultural segment captivated the audience, with patriotic songs and traditional dances performed by expatriates Bangladeshi singers.
The Embassy’s Third Secretary and Head of Chancery, Mr. S.M. Ghulam Sarwar was in charge of conducting the entire program.
