Local Bangladesh Independence Day Celebrations

Date published: 28/03/2007

Monday 26 March was Bangladesh’s 36th Independence Day.  1971 marked the creation of Bangladesh - formerly called East Pakistan - from Pakistan in 1971 after a nine-month war (which saw over 300,000 men, women and children killed, millions made homeless and the country torn apart).

The Bangladesh Youth Association in Rochdale organised an event to the mark occasion, as it does on an annual basis. 

The event was attended by over 400 people and included members of other communities (including Kashmiris, Pakistanis, Indians and the indigenous community).

The event was chaired by Hellal Choudhury, Chairman of Wardleworth Community Centre Association.  The main guest was the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Jean Hornby and her consort (Husband) Barrie Hornby.  Other special guests included former Mayor of Rochdale Sultan Ali, Shaukat Ali, Chairman of Rochdale Bangladeshi Professional Network, Sadar Uddin, Regional Director of Ashiana Housing Association, Councillor Ibrar Khan, Councillor Allen Brett, Simon Danzchak, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Rochdale Labour Party and Dr Musharraf Hussain, Chairman of Bangladesh Association amp; Community Project.

The programme, held at Wardleworth Community Centre, started off with recitation of the holy Quran by Abdul Aziz Jayed.  The crowd of 400+ paid their respects by giving a standing ovation at the same time the national anthem of Bangladesh was read.  It was followed by speeches, which outlined the history of Bangladesh by Farooq Ahmed and Boshir Ahmed, all the guests gave messages of solidarity.  The Chairman of the Bangladesh Youth Association,  Mohammed Dobir Miah, gave the vote of thanks, and asked all to remember the people who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom "of our beloved motherland that we know today as Bangladesh", and also went on to say "I hope that Bangladeshi’s living in the UK are able to learn and understand their identity and more importantly practice it.  I am also hoping that the wider community will also learn and understand the rich culture we have.  I hope this event has been of interest to you, and that you will take with you something good about Bangladesh."