Port Louis, Mauritius, October 18 2021 :

The Bangladesh High Commission, Port Louis with the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change of Mauritius and the Beach Authority jointly observed Sheikh Russel Day.

On this occasion, a beach clean-up activity together with tree planting was carried out at PG Melville Public Beach at Grand Gaube, Mauritius. Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr. Kavydass Ramano graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

Minister for the Arts and Cultural Heritage of Mauritius, Mr. Avinash Teeluck and Chairman of the Beach Authority Daniel Eric Clive Laurent were present as special guests. In order to ensure the highest number of participations the expatriate worker’s the High Commission organized the program on 17 October, 2021, Sunday, the weekend, instead of Monday.

Today on 18 October, 2021 an in-house program was organized, where the messages by the Hon’ble President and Hon’ble Prime Minister were read out and a video clip on Sheikh Russel was screened.

In her welcome address, H.E. the High Commissioner Ms. Rezina Ahmed paid her deepest tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bengali of all time, his youngest son, Sheikh Russel and all the members of the family, who were brutally killed on August 15, and added that the killers did not spare the 10-year-old boy, Sheikh Russel. We strongly condemn this brutal and heinous killing. She believed that any good work could be the best way to pay respect to the departed soul. She also thanked all the expatriate Bangladeshis for their spontaneous participation and said that the cooperation of the countrymen is always solicited, no matter whether it is in the country or abroad.

Kavydass Ramano, Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Government of Mauritius highlighted the importance of protecting environment and in this regard, the beach cleaning is one of the important tasks.

To this end, the unique initiative of the Bangladesh High Commission is inspiring for building awareness among the communities in protecting the environment of the country. It is notable that Mauritius is considered as the 52nd country among the most climate vulnerable countries and this would certainly enrich our endeavors.

Minister for the Arts and Cultural Heritage of Mauritius, Avinash Teeluck added that this initiative of the Bangladesh High Commission is laudable. In this respect, he stated that as people keep their houses clean, they should do the same for their country, public property, such as sea beaches.

The event was attended by Ambassador of Japan, CDA of the United States, MPs of the respective areas, senior officials of the concerned Ministries and Beach authoritie, officials of the District Council and representatives of print and electronic media.

In addition, the expatriate Bangladeshi workers, members of the civil society, members of Bangladesh community spontaneously participated and made the program successful with great enthusiasm and dynamism.

It may be prepended that all the participants took part in the activities by wearing the T-shirts made on the occasion of Sheikh Russel Day by the High Commission.