Bangladesh Consulate General in Toronto Celebrates Independence Day

The Bangladesh Consulate General in Toronto today commemorated Bangladesh’s Independence and National Day, 2026 with due fervour and festivity.

The day-long programme began at the Bangladesh House premises with the hoisting of the national flag by Bangladesh Consul General Md Shah Alom Khokon, followed by the reading out of the messages delivered by the Hon’ble President, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Foreign Minister, and Hon’ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs on the occasion.

A befitting reception was held in the evening at the Conference Hall, Atria-I, Toronto, bringing together prominent members of the Bangladeshi community from across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

In his remarks on this occasion, Consul General Shah Alom Khokon paid profound tribute to the martyrs, freedom fighters, and women who made the supreme sacrifices for the nation's independence. The Consul General paid tribute to the proclaimer of independence, late President Ziaur Rahman, for his historic declaration that galvanized the nation, and lauded former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia for her instrumental role in the struggle for democracy. The Consul General elaborated on the "Bangladesh First" foreign policy, calling on all to lend their support to the government's pursuit of a modern and just nation.

Expressing happiness over the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Canada, Consul General Shah Alom Khokon noted that the partnership has reached new heights. He also highlighted several innovative, people-friendly consular initiatives and diaspora engagement programs recently undertaken by the Consulate, guided by the motto “Community First.”

The Consul General further underscored Bangladesh’s commitment to multilateralism, noting that the country has presented its candidature for the Presidency of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, with the election scheduled for June 2026. He expressed hope for the support of the international community and affirmed that, if elected, Bangladesh would strive to contribute meaningfully to strengthening global peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.

The evening concluded with the screening of a documentary on the Liberation War and a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion. The guests were entertained with traditional Bangladeshi cuisine.

As part of the celebrations of the 55th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence, the Consulate General will host a second reception on April 2, 2026, in honor of the consular corps based in Toronto, a city which hosts the second largest consular corps in the world after New York.