Thank you very much for that rather generous introduction. It’s great to be amongst you all. Amongst many friends that I have not seen for so long - as you may gather I have been a little busy lately.

Although, you have invited me here as the next British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, I want to make my address you today a personal one. I address you today as a proud member of your community, as a fellow British Bangladeshi professional and as a friend of your Association.

I must confess, I am a big fan of your organisation. Your work in promoting a positive image of the community, in improving the representation of British Bangladeshis in private and public sector, in fostering educational achievement, the pursuit of professional excellence and social responsibility; are not only all totally commendable, but fills an important gap for a community with so much potential.

The work you do is very real, only the other day I met a young guy who had attended one of your job fairs and advice sessions and as a result is now enjoying fruits of a good career. The input you make to the policy debate in government is acknowledged at high levels. It gave me great pleasure to hear a senior member of staff in the Department for International Development mention your organisation, as a much needed and highly rated professional group for engagement with government. And of course your social functions, like today’s, are always a highlight in many young people’s diaries, as an event for having fun, networking, meeting old friends and making new ones. You provide a real service to the British Bangladeshi Community.

So what can we say of the British Bangladeshi community today. Some people say that it is a community that is beset with problems, lacking in attainment and has fallen behind. But I do not see this. I see it as a community whose time has come, a community on the rise. A community which now produce some the most successful business people, the youngest Mayors, the countries top doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, accountants…. And I do not know many families whose kids are not at University and looking at the professions for careers.

Organisations like yours have huge role to play in helping people find those careers, helping each other with acquiring the competence, the connections and crucially the confidence to make a success of those careers. And as you progress up the ladder of success I know you will strengthen the steps underneath so others in the community can climb faster and perhaps and go beyond.

But it is not just in the professions that we are making our mark. We have of course single-handedly changed the diet of this country. This along with the infusion of our values, culture and colour has had a huge part in the creation of modern multicultural Britain. And today’s Britain, today’s multicultural, multi-faith Britain, although not perfect, is still the envy of many across the world. We should take pride in modern Britain, for we have helped to create it. And there is no reason, there must not be any reason, why we should not feel that we are every much part of this country as our countrymen and women whose ancestors were from France, Ireland, or indeed England.

It is my sincere hope that our confidence in ourselves and in Britain will mean that we will look at new horizons, so that we, our children, do not just aim at just joining the professions but aspire to become countries Generals, and Director Generals, its Ambassadors, Permanent Secretaries. Ladies and Gentlemen, it must be right, indeed a duty that we join the establishments that helps to run and represent our country. The Civil Service, the Defence Service, the Foreign Service, needs and wants talent, our community has plenty in supply. You are all testaments to that.
Some people continue to worry about glass ceilings. I say don’t. It is only fear and the smoke of misinformation that stops us aiming higher.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have never aimed higher than the honour of representing and serving my country, the United Kingdom. The fact that I get to do this in the country of my birth and that of my ancestors, for me, is nothing less than a dream come true. I have always been very fond of Bangladesh and its people, so I gave myself no option but compete and secure this post.

The UK Government’s interest and the work of our High Commission in Bangladesh spans across many areas; Our political work promotes good governance and democracy. We give 80 million in aid, and we want to give more. We promote trade (Bangladesh exports 3 times as much to us as we to them.) We provide services in immigration, consular & visa – we are now able to turn around many visas within 24 hours. And our public diplomacy work promotes modern British culture and values, our values. The strand running through all our work in Bangladesh is completely intertwined with Bangladesh being a successful country that can play its full part in the growing global economy. Bangladesh being a successful country defines the essence of our bilateral relationship. The UK is a friend of Bangladesh, there is much in our history that ties us together. The near half million people in the UK of Bangladeshi origin will mean that our future is also coupled together. And you the British Bangladeshis will have key role in determining the success of that future. This is one of the reasons why it will be a very satisfying part of my job to maintain and enhance the liaison and relationship with you.

I must say, if the press is anything to go by, that I have been deeply touched by the generosity and warmth you have shown me in reaction to the news of my appointment. I know I will have some advantages, but I also face some extra challenges. But your good will and wishes will always act as huge bonus for me. I hope I can live up to your expectations and that our High Commission and I can be of some service to you.

So let me end by wishing you all fabulously successful careers and futures, to ask you to stand proud of your community and your achievements – and to know that as fellow British Bengali, I for one stand proud of you all.