A reception was hosted at Baridhara on November 29, 2023, to mark the 105th Independence Day of Romania.

Enayetullah Khan, Honorary Consul of Romania in Bangladesh and Editor-in-Chief of UNB and Dhaka Courier, hosted the reception at his residence.

At the beginning, Khan highlighted the growing relations between Bangladesh and Romania and the importance of the month of December that is coming, noting that Bangladesh achieved Victory on December 16.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of people who sacrificed their life to achieve the independence of Bangladesh. 

Renowned scholar-diplomat and former Advisor on Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Caretaker Government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury also spoke at the reception.

Dr Iftekhar mentioned that Enayetullah Khan has recently been awarded the Romanian National Order For Merit in the rank of Knight. “You truly deserve it,” he added.

Khan was honoured with the prestigious award as a sign of high appreciation for the important contribution made to supporting and promoting bilateral relations and high-level dialogue between Bangladesh and Romania, according to the office of Romanian president.

The award is given by the president of Romania. The National Order of Merit recognises important civil or military services rendered to Romania.

Dr Iftekhar said the relations between Bangladesh and Romania have now grown many folds and it covers a wide volume of spectrum of activities - cultural, social, economic, and political; and cooperation in the labour sector.

“Romania is an extremely important partner,” he said, adding that  Khan is doing a tremendous job representing Romania in Bangladesh.

He recalled the visit paid by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen in 2021 and the outcome of the visit that strengthened the relations between the two countries.

Academics, politicians, diplomats, business leaders, city elite, and former civil and defence officials attended the reception.

Romania’s National Day marks the day of the Great Union, which was the unification of Transylvania, as well as of the provinces of Bessarabia and Bukovina with the Romanian Kingdom in 1918.