Bangladesh rejoins Commonwealth Foundation

The Commonwealth Foundation is delighted to announce that the Government of Bangladesh has decided to renew its membership with immediate effect. 

Commonwealth Foundation Director, Vijay Krishnarayan, said:  “The Commonwealth Foundation welcomes Bangladesh in to membership of the Commonwealth Foundation. We see this as a re-affirmation of Bangladesh’s commitment to the Commonwealth’s principles and priorities. In particular it highlights the importance that the Government of Bangladesh places on a plural, independent and effective civil society that is able to contribute fully to making development and democracy sustainable.”

The Foundation looks forward to continuing collaboration with colleagues in both Dhaka and the mission in London in preparation for the Partners’ Forum at the forthcoming 10th Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting, 15-17 June 2013. The theme of the meeting is ‘Women’s Leadership for Enterprise’.

The High Commissioner for Bangladesh in London, H E Mohamed Mijarul Quayes said: “The Commonwealth Foundation is unique in its capacity for promoting effective networking and knowledge sharing among the civil society in the Commonwealth. Bangladesh can be rightly proud of its strong civil society that has played an active role in making a difference in socio-economic development as also in mainstreaming empowerment, inclusion and gender in the public discourse. With Bangladesh’s re-entry into the Commonwealth Foundation, we look forward to enhanced interaction of our civil society with their colleagues across the Commonwealth for the common good of our peoples”.

As a Foundation member country, civil society organisations based in Bangladesh may now benefit from the Foundation’s grants programme. For more details, visit our website.