The 53rd Independence and National Day of Bangladesh has been celebrated at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Rome, Italy in a befitting manner.
Md Shameem Ahsan, ambassador of Bangladesh to Italy, Serbia and Montenegro, hoisted the national flag ceremonially at 10:00am in presence of the officers and officials of the embassy.
This was followed by a one-minute silence and placing a floral wreath on the portrait of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The second part of the programme was held at the auditorium of the mission with the presence of community members, journalists and officials of the mission.
The programme included recitations from the holy scriptures and reading out of the messages of the president, prime minister, foreign minister and state minister for foreign affairs and discussion-meeting.
During the discussion segment, speakers from the community, while paying deep tribute to Sheikh Mujib and all martyrs, reiterated their commitment to work for the materialisation of their dream.
Ambassador Md Shameem Ahsan paid glowing tribute to the greatest Bengali of all times, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose charismatic leadership was the driving force behind the country’s independence.
Due to the holy month of Ramadan, the National and Independence Day reception was held on 20 March 2023 at Parco dei Principi hotel in Rome.
Approximately 200 guests, including dignitaries from the host country, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from United Nations agencies, international organisations and civil society, academics, business and chamber leaders and opinion leaders, among others, were present.
Secretary general of the Italian ministry of health Giovanni Leonardi joined the programme as the chief guest. Stellar performances by Italian and Bangladeshi artists in Bangla added colour to the event and kept the enlightened audience captivated.
On the sideline of the main event, documentaries on tourism, cultural heritage and investment and economic potentials of the country were screened.