The Embassy of Bangladesh in Riyadh celebrated its 51st anniversary of Independence and National Day with enthusiasm and festivity. On the occasion of the day a "reception" was hosted at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Riyadh Sunday evening. Assistant Deputy Governor of Riyadh Nabeel Abdullah Al-Taweel attended the program as chief guest. Deputy Minister for Protocol affairs Ambassador Khalid Bin Faisal Al-Sahli, Deputy Minister for Interior Dr. Hesham Al-Faleh, members of Shoura Council and Dean of Diplomatic corps Ambassador of Djibouti to Saudi Arabia Dyaeddin Said Bamakhrama attended the event as special guests. Ambassadors and diplomats from different mission, high officials from different ministries, representatives from chambers, and businessmen also attended the reception. Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Javed Patwary BPM (Bar) along with the guests cut a cake to celebrate the day in the reception program. In his speech at the reception, Ambassador Patwary said Bangladesh has achieved independence after nine months-long blood-stained Liberation War under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and with the sacrifice of the lives of three million people. Today Bangabandhu"s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly to implement Bangabandhu’s Golden Bengal dream and to make Bangladesh a developed country by 2041. The Ambassador thanked the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman who have extended their support to and facilitated the well-beings of Bangladeshi expatriates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Patwary said, “Saudi Arabia is Bangladesh"s tested friend and Bangladesh enjoys warm bilateral relations with the Kingdom since the inception of diplomatic relations. This relationship is based on our shared values, common understanding on global peace and harmony, and commitment to concerted bilateral cooperation toward advancing economic activities and issues of mutual interest.” He added, “We would like to take our relationship to a new height in the coming days, particularly in the areas of security, trade, investment, education, health, agriculture, climate change and environmental protection, and manpower between the two brotherly countries.” The Ambassador also mentioned that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh"s recent development has been praised as the ‘Role Model’ of development for many countries in the world. He urged the expatriates Bangladeshis living in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to come forward to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh in the spirit of Liberation War. He reiterated Bangladesh’s solidarity with the government of Saudi Arabia and its brotherly people against any threat to its safety and security. — SG