Network Bangla commemorated Bangladesh Independence Day 2008 with NB:ID, an event held on Sunday 30th March at the award-winning Lasan Restaurant, Birmingham.

Bangladesh Independece Day falls on 26th March the day that the Awami League declared the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, after years of suffering at the hands of West Pakistan. To read the information leaflet provided at the event, please click here.

NB:ID opened to guests with a welcoming drinks reception. A delectable lunch was followed by a presentation on Network Bangla by Abdul Hasnat (Non-Executive Director) and Hussna Jahan (General Committee) to inform new members attending, and to update current members with our latest ideas, achievements and plans to date.

An Independence Day slideshow created by graphic designer Leyakoth of DESImation, was then showed, illustrating the terrible nature of the struggles leading up to the war and of the war of Independence, but ending on positive pictures of the Bangla culture and celebrations. This was complemented with a passionate and informative speech on Bangladesh Independence Day, and which included firsthand account.

Tomjedur Rahman then gave a short presentation about the charity mountain trek that he and his friends and fellow Network Bangla members, Robiul Alam and Abul Kasam would be doing for 5 days in Egypt, and which is supported by Network Bangla and its members. They are raising this money for Islamic Relief's Education Project, a project aiming to improve the quality and access of education in the poorer parts of the world. The NB:ID attendees donated generously towards this. If you would like to find out more about their trek and support them with donations, please visit their JustGiving page at http://justgiving.com/sinai3

A fun quiz then followed and was well-received by the attendees as they split into groups and tried to outdo each other with their knowledge of Bangla facts, brainteasers and general knowledge.

And as standard, the bread and butter of Network Bangla events closed the afternoon - an active networking session where people spoke to other guests and made contacts. The feedback was very positive - another successful event, thanks to all the members who attended.

Click here to view Event Photos

Click here to view the Bangladesh Independence Day information leaflet created by Network Bangla for this event