British High Commission in Dhaka has celebrated Queen’s birthday party after a gap of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and vowed to boost girls’ life chances allowing them to dream big for the future.

This year, the event held on Wednesday evening had a special significance as Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her platinum jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury joined the reception celebrating the birthday party as guest of honour.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said the Queen has been an “incredible source” of strength for the UK and the Commonwealth through a period of enormous change.

Also read:Bangladesh, Serbia keen to further strengthen bilateral partnership

“I am thrilled to welcome our friends in Bangladesh to celebrate the Queen's birthday and platinum jubilee marking her 70 year reign – a unique milestone,” he said.

“Today, thanks to the generosity of our partners, we are making a donation to further the causes of girls’ education and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. Through this contribution we pay tribute to Her Majesty’s exemplary devotion to a life of service and celebrate the international cooperation she has championed throughout her reign,” the High Commissioner added.

A wide range of dignitaries from the Government of Bangladesh; representatives from Commonwealth nations, OECD and EU countries; and leaders from the fields of business, trade, social development, academia, arts, culture, media and sports joined the celebration.

The Queen has ruled for longer than any other monarch in British history, becoming a much loved and respected figure across the globe.

The jubilee is a central element of an exciting year of UK culture and creativity, including the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the BBC’s Centenary.

The platinum jubilee will be celebrated in the UK over an extended four-day weekend in June.

In honour of the Queen, the theme of the event was Empowering Girls to Change Their World.

The British High Commission invited girls and young women from across Bangladesh to join the party and introduce themselves to guests, sharing their dreams for the future.

Also read:Take care of Rohingyas like Bangladesh: UNHCR to regional countries

A significant portion of the sponsorship raised for the event will be used to support girls’ education across Bangladesh through the British Council’s EDGE Programme.

The Queen’s birthday party is celebrated by British Embassies and High Commissions around the world. This year, the Queen turned 96 on April 21.