The British High Commission, High Commission of Canada, and High Commission of India in Dhaka were covered in dazzling royal purple lights from 6pm to 9pm Thursday to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s unprecedented 70 years on the throne.
The queen – the world’s third-longest serving monarch in recorded history – becomes the first British monarch to celebrate an anniversary billed as platinum jubilee, marking 70 years of her service to the people of the UK, the Realms and the Commonwealth.
As the head of the Commonwealth, she has dedicated herself to the service of its people, becoming a much loved and respected figure across the globe.
To mark the jubilee, over 2,500 public events are happening in the UK this weekend.
In Bangladesh, the memorable occasion was marked at the queen’s birthday party, hosted on May 25 under the theme “empowering girls to change their world,” where a significant portion of the sponsorship raised for the event was used to support girls’ education across Bangladesh through the British Council’s EDGE Programme.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said the queen has been a dedicated servant of the UK, the Realms and the Commonwealth and it is wonderful that “we can celebrate her service by lighting up our buildings on her birthday.”
“With over 260 official visits overseas, including to Bangladesh in 1983, the queen has been the UK’s foremost diplomat, affirming old relationships and building new connections, strengthening the bonds of friendship, understanding and respect between the UK, the Commonwealth, and the rest of the world,” the envoy said.
Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dr Lilly Nicholls said on this anniversary, they join millions of people in Canada and across the Commonwealth in congratulating the queen.
“To mark this very special occasion the high commission is lit royal purple today, and we thank Her Majesty for her tireless service and dedication as sovereign,” she said.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram K Doraiswami said Indians in Bangladesh extend warm greetings to family members of the Commonwealth in Dhaka on the platinum jubilee of the queen.
“For India, as an early member of the modern Commonwealth since our independence, Her Majesty’s reign both as sovereign of the UK and as head of Commonwealth is synonymous with an extraordinary era of growth, and development of our fraternal ties with the Commonwealth family,” he said.
“The queen’s leadership these past 70 years has always been inspiring. In tribute to the queen and celebration of the spirit of the modern Commonwealth, the High Commission of India is delighted to join other partners in lighting our mission in royal purple.”
The Commonwealth, which is headed by the queen, has grown from 8 to 54 members in the last 70 years.
The queen is now the head of state of 15 countries of the Commonwealth realm, including the UK.
The other nations are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Source: United News of Bangladesh