Independence Day reception held in Paris

A diplomatic reception was held in Paris on Tuesday to mark the 55th Independence and National Day of Bangladesh.

The event took place at the prestigious and historic Pavillon Royal in Paris’s 16th arrondissement.

The reception and dinner segment of the event was moderated by First Secretary of the Bangladesh Embassy in France, Md Walid Bin Quashem. The event was chaired by Bangladesh’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Khondker M Talha.

Among other embassy officials present were Defence Attaché Brigadier General Mohammad Khairuzzaman Molla (ndc, psc), First Secretary Sheikh Marefat Tarikul Islam, Minister (Commercial) Mizanur Rahman, Second Secretary KFM Sharhad Shakil, and others.

In his speech, Ambassador Khondker M Talha paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War and also remembered the contributions of students and citizens who were injured or killed in recent democratic movements in Bangladesh.

He said, “Our independence is an inseparable part of our identity and the foundation of our state. We must remain united to uphold and protect the spirit of independence.”

The ambassador also highlighted the national elections held on 12 February 2026 and the efforts of the newly formed government to strengthen international relations. He called for international support for the candidacy of Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman as President of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

He further elaborated on the longstanding relations between Bangladesh and France, as well as Bangladesh and UNESCO, and invited French businesses to invest in Bangladesh.

Community leaders present at the event included politicians MA Taher, Abul Khayer Laskar, Chowdhury Mohammad Iftesham, Rezaul Karim, Juned Ahmed; journalist leaders Mohammad Kamruzzaman and Mohammad Arif Ullah; and young political leaders Ahmed Abdul Malek and Muhammad Ali Chowdhury, among others.

With formal proceedings, diplomatic presence, and active participation of the Bangladeshi diaspora, the event turned into a vibrant gathering.

The event also saw the participation of the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, more than a hundred ambassadors accredited in Paris, senior officials from UNESCO headquarters, representatives of international organizations, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Additionally, the presence of expatriate Bangladeshis, leaders and activists of social and political organizations, journalists, cultural personalities, and embassy staff made the event lively. In total, around 400 guests attended the reception.