Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK Minister of State for the Commonwealth, UN and South Asia, has lauded the role of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the field women empowerment and women education at the Commonwealth Fair in London.
“I got the chance to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. I know she has a pivotal role in women empowerment and women education,” he told the inaugural ceremony of the Commonwealth Fair 2019 at Kensington Town Hall in London on Saturday, according to a press release received here on Sunday.
Noting that the UK premier has also attached importance to women education, Lord Ahmad said the Commonwealth Fair is playing an important role in promoting women education.
This year the daylong fair was hosted by the Bangladesh High Commission in London in aid of the Commonwealth Girls Education Fund (CGEF).
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem along with guests inaugurated the daylong fair at a colorful function with the playing of national anthems of Bangladesh and the UK.
Saida Muna Tasneem said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was honoured with “Planet 50-50 Champion” and “Agent of Change” awards in 2016 for her outstanding contributions to women empowerment. She said now Sheikh Hasina has become a role model of women development and women education.
She said the Bangladesh High Commission with the association of Bangladeshi-British community has collected 15,000 pounds for the Commonwealth Girls Education Fund (CGEF).
Commonwealth Countries League (CCL) President Nalini Paranavitane, Commonwealth Secretariat Deputy Secretary General Dr Arjoon Suddhoo, Commonwealth Girls Education Fund Chairman (CGEF) Chairman Roxanne St Clair, CCL patron Louisa Service, OBE and Commonwealth Fair Coordinator Cecilia Muchemi addressed the inaugural ceremony of the fair.
The UK’s veteran politician Lord David Howell also joined the inaugural fair spontaneously. A total of 38 countries took part in the fair and 34 institutions exhibited and sold crafts and other products in the traditionally decorated stalls.
