Public discussion

Date: Thursday 20 October 2011. Venue: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Room, Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament, SW1A. Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm

The election of 2008 appeared to mark a watershed for Bangladesh with the polls praised as the fairest in the country’s history.  This is a time of great promise for Bangladesh, a country of 160 million people, most of them poor. The economy is doing well and the government remains fairly popular.

The Bangladeshi diaspora, which has generated a multi-million dollar curry industry in the UK alone, can make a huge contribution to helping Bangladesh achieve its full potential. Britain has also supported Bangladesh with generous aid programmes.

While eager to help, Bangladesh’s friends abroad are concerned about recent developments and, in return for their continued support, are seeking assurances that the country’s democratic freedoms should not be allowed to decline.

We hear the views of a distinguished panel of experts.

Chair:

Rita Payne, Chair, Commonwealth Journalists Association (UK)

Panellists:

Dr Dipu Moni, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh

Iqbal Ahmed OBE, Chairman and Chief Executive, Seamark Group

Keith Best, Chairman of ERIS, Chief Executive of Freedom from Torture and former Chief Executive of Immigration Advisory Group

Peter Fowler, former UK High Commissioner to Bangladesh

Ifty Islam, Managing Partner, Asian Tiger Capital Partners

Sabit Mustafa, Editor, BBC Bengali Service

The discussion will be followed by a reception sponsored by Amin Ali, founder of the award-winning restaurant the Red Fort.

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RSVP: rita@ritapaynemedia.com;  Mobile: 07834-845240