The embassies of Norway, Denmark and Sweden in Bangladesh hosted a reception on May 25 for around 800 friends, colleagues and contacts of the embassies at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka to mark the respective national days of the Scandinavian countries. Given the shared history and cultural heritage of Norway, Denmark and Sweden, as well as an established tradition of international cooperation, the joint celebration echoes the close partnership and common values and traits shared between the countries.
The opening remarks by the ambassador’s highlighted Nordic cooperation and engagement in Bangladesh and the Norwegian Ambassador Ms. Ragne Birte Lund, dressed in the traditional Norwegian folk costume for the occasion, also pointed to the nature of the Norwegian Constitutional Day in a multicultural context in her speech.
-The Norwegian Constitutional Day, 17th May, is a day of outdoor activities, local community gatherings, people dressed in national costumes and children parades all over the country. It is the most colourful and vibrant day of the year. Also foreigners and Norwegian citizens of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds are adding to the richness of the day. It is about togetherness and inclusiveness in Norway in a globalised world. When gathering in Bangladesh we hope to share this spirit of new life, friendship and inclusiveness with you.
A live “musical journey” to the North by Norwegian fiddler Mr. Andeas Ljones and various delicacies from the national cuisines of the countries, such as Danish apple charlotte, Norwegian salmon and Swedish reindeer meat, served to offer a Northerly ambiance over the Bangladeshi setting, which was well received by Bangladeshi and international guests alike.
The spirit of Nordic cooperation in Bangladesh is also manifested through the newly established Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangladesh (NCCIB). As a prelude to the Joint Scandinavian National Day, the NCCIB arranged a “speed debate” event for its members and their guests, with the purpose of consolidating business relations between NCCIB members and their customers. The speed-dating format simulated that of the recent Danish-Norwegian hosted Nordic agro-business matchmaking event, and was appraised by Hasan Fatheme, executive director of the NCCIB, as productive and interactive.
-The main idea was to promote networking among the NCCIB members through interesting discussion and knowledge sharing. Some of them scheduled a meeting among themselves for business related prospects. We received a positive feedback from the members who would like to see similar events on a larger scale, said Fatheme following the event.