Bangladesh High Commissioner Suhrab Hossain and Rawsana Hossain welcomed hundreds of guests at a large dinner reception in Islamabad on the occasion of the country’s 44th Independence Day on March 26.

Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan was invited as the chief guest on the occasion.

No speeches were delivered at the dinner reception and the event kicked off with a cake cutting ceremony, followed by a scrumptious meal. Pakistan and Bangladesh shared a common history during colonial times and after independence until 1971, when the two separated. Today, there are both positive and negative aspects to this relationship. The two countries often compare notes on development and cricket.

Bangladesh has a total GDP of about $165 billion and is a nation of 160 million people. Pakistan’s GDP is about $243 billion with a population close to 200 million. In Bangladesh, the GDP per capita is just over $1,000, while in Pakistan it is about $1,300.

While both countries have low rates of literacy, in the field of education, Bangladesh has been doing better than Pakistan and meeting the UN Education for All (EFA) goals. In health and nutrition, Bangladesh scores very low with almost half of all young children stunted and more malnourished. Bangladesh is prone to natural disasters with frequent floods, tropical cyclones and tornadoes. About 87 per cent of the Bangladeshis are Muslims; about 12 per cent are Hindus, and small groups belong to other religions.

The South Asia Free Trade Agreement has helped increase trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which now stands at about $800 million annually, heavily in Pakistan’s favour. The issue was discussed at a meeting between the Bangladesh High Commission and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in December last year. “But then, in cricket there is more equality in competition,” a pleasant businessman observed at the National Day celebrations, last Thursday.

Spring welcomed with festivity

Swedish Ambassador Tomas Rosander (left) with Swedish citizens Rebeckah and Lars Wigemark of the European Union, and Argentine Ambassador Adolfo Martin Saravia.

Last week was a time for spring festivities for diplomats and locals alike, as the spring equinox on March 21 was being celebrated in many parts of the world, especially Persia, Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Nordic countries.

Nowruz, the Persian new year, is marked by the spring equinox. Irshadullah Khan and his wife Hooshi, who is from Iran, celebrated Nowroz with an elegant dinner attended by diplomats and other guests. The dinner was hosted at the exclusive dining hall on the top-floor of one of Islamabad’s best hotels. The terrace offered a stunning view of the city and the clear, slightly chilly spring night put the guests in a celebratory mood.

During his speech, the host discussed current affairs but included some lighter notes, keeping the occasion in mind.

On Wednesday evening, it was Sweden’s turn to celebrate the arrival of spring. After experiencing a long and harsh winter, the Swedes and the others Scandinavians may have more reason than many others to celebrate spring.

Incidentally, Easter in the Christian calendar is also celebrated at this time falling on the first Sunday after full moon, following Spring Equinox. Ambassador Tomas Rosander organised a musical dinner. The diplomatic entertainers included Peter Heyward, Australia’s High Commissioner, Nedim Makarevic, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Rebeckah Wigemark, the wife of the outgoing European Union Ambassador, along with the professional Pakistani musician Arieb Azhar.

The guest, most of whom were middle-aged, hummed along to the nostalgic tunes from a few decades ago.

Many foreign diplomats, retired Pakistani military men and some women activists enjoyed the music late into the night. “After all, it is still the International Women’s Month and we must be noticed,” quipped one.

— Text and pho­to by Atle Hetland & Shahbaz Chaudary

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2015

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