“Let’s honour Bangabandhu’s indomitable freedom-loving and secular spirit by standing boldly against terrorism, radicalisation, extremism and sectarianism both at home and abroad," she said.
The Ambassador was addressing a commemorative programme organised at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Bangkok on the occasion of the National Mourning Day and 43rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Bangabandhu and his family members.
Tasneem called upon the expatriate Bangladeshi youths to uphold the image and profile of Bangladesh in Thailand and Cambodia emulating the progressive, tolerant and non-communal Bengali values upheld by Bangabandhu throughout his life.
She paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu for his fearless leadership of the Bengali nation’s emancipation towards its independence and sovereignty in 1971, as well as his diplomatic achievements between 1972 and ‘75 towards Bangladesh’s international recognition and membership in the UN.
A milad mahfil, special prayers and a panel discussion was dedicated to mark the day organised at the Embassy premises followed by wreath laying at the portrait of Bangabandhu by the Bangladesh community and Thai school children alongside the Ambassador of Bangladesh, said the Embassy.
A large number of expatriate Bangladeshis living in Thailand, including from UNESCAP and other international organisations, businessmen and Bangladeshi students studying in different Thai universities as well as local Thai people, especially school children, participated y in Bangladesh’s National Mourning Day programme.
Ambassador Tasneem also briefed the community of the various initiatives undertaken by the Embassy over the past four years to immortalise Bangabandhu in Thailand and Cambodia, including establishment of a PhD level ‘Bangabandhu Chair at the AIT, Thailand, naming of a prominent street in Phnom Penh, Cambodia after the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, translation of the historic 7 March speech to Thai language at the Chulalongklorn University.
Earlier, the national flag was hoisted at half-mast at a ceremony, followed by special prayers for salvation and eternal peace of the departed martyrs of souls of 15 August 1975, including the Father of the Nation.