Rotary Clubs to foster friendship, economic prosperity between India and Bangladesh

Agartala, Oct. 7 (IANS): The Rotary Clubs of India and Bangladesh will hold a two-day “Setubandhan” international event here this month to jointly promote friendship, peace and economic prosperity between the two neighbours, club officials said here on Saturday.
“The third ‘Setubandhan’ international programme would be held in Agartala on October 27-28. The event comprising numerous programmes is aimed to boost friendship, peace and economic prosperity of the two countries,” Joint Convener of “Setubandhan-2017” Baharul Islam Majumder told the media.
He said: “Seminars, peace rally, cultural functions and various other events would be held as part of the “Setubandhan” international programme. Over 700 Rotarians from 223 Rotary Clubs of northeast India and southeast Bangladesh would take part in the series of programmes.”
All the Rotary Clubs of northeast India and parts of north Bengal formed Rotary district 3240 would participate in the “Setubandhan” programme where two Bangladesh ministers – Railway minister Mujibul Hoque and cultural affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor – would participate as Rotarians.
Abdul Quddus Akhand, another Joint Convener of “Setubandhan-2017” said that to foster better understanding both among the common people and policy makers and to further improve ties between the two neighbours the “Setubandhan” programme was being organised both in India and Bangladesh since 2015.
“The international clubs are also working to remove various misconceptions among the people at various levels in the two countries.”
Akhand, a physician from Bangladesh who owns a medical college in that country, said the Rotary clubs are working in many sectors including for a polio-free world.
“For the betterment of students, poor people and needy men, women and children the 112-year-old Rotary clubs are operating a huge number of schemes including health, education and humanitarian services”, he added.
Akhand said the Rotary clubs are providing relief material and humanitarian services to Rohingya refugees, currently sheltered in Bangladesh.
The theme song of “Setubandhan-2017” was composed by dramatist, writer and former bureaucrat Subhash Das.