The Bangladesh Association of Hong Kong is dedicated to ensuring that Bangladesh community members always feel at home in the city by instilling in them a sense of belonging, comfort, respect, dignity and pride, according to speakers at an event held in the special administrative region on May 18.
The association is a non-profit, charitable and socio-cultural organization that serves as the sole platform representing the entire Bangladeshi community residing in the SAR. It celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday evening with a celebrating ceremony and vibrant performances.
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“I’m delighted to note that, as a non-profit organization, BAHK has completed this journey for 20 years for ensuring the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates in Hong Kong, and promoting Bangladesh’s history, culture, tradition, cuisine, and many more in Hong Kong by organizing various social cultural events”, said Consul General of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Hong Kong, Israt Ara. “The hard work and dedication of the association’s members are commendable.”
According to Ara, bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the whole of China are remarkable and those between Bangladesh and the HKSAR are also strengthening. “Our relationship is based on shared values and common objectives of economic and social progress.”
“Today, we come together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Bangladesh Association of Hong Kong, a significant milestone that represents two decades of excellence, community service, cultural diversity, social inclusion, and racial harmony,” said BAHK President Syed Mohiuddin Mohi.
In the past two decades, the association has played a significant role in upholding the rich traditions, culture, and heritage of Bangladesh within the multicultural society of Hong Kong, he said.
He noted that the Bangladesh community is diverse and vibrant, comprising a large number of businessmen and a wide range of other professionals, including doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, bankers, financial advisors, IT specialists, pharmacists, journalists and individuals, from various other disciplines.
BAHK has been working relentlessly to promote the integration of the Bangladeshi community into Hong Kong society with the ultimate goal of building “an inclusive and unified society”, said BAHK President Syed Mohiuddin Mohi
“They have been making a significant contribution to the progress and development of Hong Kong’s economic and social wealth,” he said, adding that BAHK has been working relentlessly to promote the integration of the Bangladeshi community into Hong Kong society with the ultimate goal of building “an inclusive and unified society”.
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The 20th anniversary is a remarkable milestone for the Bangladeshi community in Hong Kong, said Under-Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of the HKSAR Clement Woo Kin-man.
“Today’s communities’ harmony cultural program also serves as an important platform to showcase the rich tapestry of cultural diversity that exists in our city, while providing an invaluable opportunity to foster a sense of unity,” he said.
“All around, the association has been playing a crucial role in promoting the well-being of the Bangladeshi community in Hong Kong.”
Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission Linda Lam congratulated the BAHK for its amazing work in the past two decades.
She said the association’s 20th anniversary is “an incredible milestone as a testament to the continued relevance and importance of the work that the Association does, not just for the Bangladeshi community in Hong Kong, but also for our society as a whole”.
The EOC is committed to working with their partners and stakeholders in different sectors, including the BAHK, to ensure that all individuals, no matter their ethnic and cultural background, are treated equally in everyday life, she said.
Children are among performers at a Community Harmony Cultural Show celebrating the 20th anniversary of BAHK in Hong Kong.
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BAHK has strived to build bridges of harmony and understanding among different communities in Hong Kong in the past two decades, said General Secretary of the Bangladesh Association of Hong Kong Ashfaqur Rahman Palash.
It is a matter of pride that the Bangladeshi community is represented as one of the active ethnic minorities in Hong Kong through BAHK, he said.
“Besides working for the betterment of our Hong Kong Bangladeshi community, we also have the responsibility to work for the development of our beloved country,” Palash added.
A Community Harmony Cultural Show with famous Bangladeshi singers Luipa and Mesba Bappy and local artistes, including children’s dance performance, followed the ceremony immediately.
Other guests attending the event included legislator Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, former district councilor Derek Hung Ling-lung, and Chan Yei-fei, BAHK’s head of service (Hong Kong).
