The Bangladesh High Commission in Nigeria on Tuesday, celebrated the 48th anniversary of the Independence and National Day of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Md. Shameem Ahsan, ndc in his welcome address, noted that Bangladesh which is one of the fastest growing economy in the world, has made several achievements worthy of celebration.
Ahsan, disclosed that the country has moved towards prosperity and has received international appreciation in the areas of poverty alleviation, gender empowerment and in fighting climate change.
According to him, “Bangladesh is gradually moving to a knowledge-based economy, we have continued to make progress, and hope to be the most developed country by 2021. We have launched our own satellite being the 57th country in the world and have become Solution provider to many economy”.
He further stated, that Bangladesh is committed towards democracy and is now a brand name in UN peace keeping, adding that they are working towards global peace and stability.
The High Commissioner who pointed out that Bangladesh and Nigeria have enjoyed cordial bilateral relationship, expressed hopes that the relationship will improve in the coming days.
He also disclosed, that Bangladesh values the support and cooperation as well as friendship of the people of Nigeria.
On his part, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, noted that Nigeria and Bangladesh enjoy warm and mutual beneficial relationship both economically, socially and politically.
He further added that Nigeria cherish friends and well wishers and extends her sincere thanks to the members of the international community for their understanding during the just concluded general elections.
The Minister, called for the extension of the cooperation to the government in the next level.
Also, the Presidential Candidate and National Chairman, Action Democratic Party (ADP) Engr Yabagi Sani, noted that Nigeria as the most populous black nation in the world can take a very good lesson from Bangladesh, to find out how the country has been able to build its economy which is growing at 7.2 per cent.
“It is a lesson that I think Nigeria with all the potential, we can do much more better than what we are doing now”, he remarked.
He noted that while Nigeria is seeking the understanding and cooperation of the international community in the just concluded elections, to move the country forward, Nigerians also need to come clean on how they conducts themselves.
“Bangladesh/Nigeria for me the take away is that, as big and huge in terms of the economic potential that we have, we should be doing much better than we are doing today. 1.9 % is not it, we should be doing much better than 10 %. If Bangladesh can do 7.2 % in terms of economic growth, then we need to grow Nigeria’s economy.
“We can deepen that relationship with Bangladesh in terms of the current progress. We cherish this relationship and I believe we will be able to deepen, grow that friendship so that it will impact our people by way of growing our economy”, he emphasized.
The celebration which held in Abuja drew people from all walks of life, as well as the international community.
