Marking 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence

The Bangladesh flag was flown over Darlington Town Hall on Friday (26 March) to celebrate the golden jubilee of the country’s independence.

Bangladesh proclaimed its independence in 1971, following a nine-month war that resulted in the loss of three million lives.

Town centre landmarks – including the Town Hall and Darlington Hippodrome – are being lit up in red and green to mark the occasion

Darlington has been praised by Bangladesh’s Assistant High Commissioner to the UK, for marking the anniversary.

Councillor Sajna Ali, one of five siblings in one of Darlington’s first Bengali families, has worked to promote the culture and heritage of the Bangladeshi community over many years.

A minute’s silence, to mark the 50th anniversary, was held outside the Town Hall.

Cllr Ali was joined for the minute’s silence by Councillor Heather Scott, Leader of Darlington Borough Council, the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Chris McEwan, Mayoress Amanda McEwan and Mohammed Bodrul Islam, cultural secretary of Darlington Bangladesh Welfare Association.

Councillor Scott said: “It is important that we recognise and celebrate diversity in our borough and further afield. I was pleased to join with colleagues to mark the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh.”

Councillor Ali said: “I am proud to see the council marking this occasion, as well as the contribution made by members of the Bangladeshi community in Darlington. The Assistant High Commissioner has recognised the strong links between the council and the Bangladeshi community, which is very gratifying.”

Councillor McEwan said: “I would like to thank Cllr Ali for her tireless efforts in promoting the rich culture and heritage of Bangladesh. Her father, the late Syed Torab Ali, was himself a prominent figure in the community and was proud to have welcomed, to his Darlington home, the commander in chief of Bangladeshi Forces from the 1971 war of independence.”