One Resilient Common Future

Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration observed by people all over the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe.
Commonwealth Day is observed on the second Monday in March each year by people from all over the Commonwealth and this year it will take place on Monday, March 11, 2024, marking the beginning of a week-long series of events and activities happening around the globe, including faith and civic gatherings, debates, school assemblies, flag-raising ceremonies and cultural events.

The Commonwealth brings together 56 independent countries and is home to 2.5 billion citizens. The theme for Commonwealth Day 2024 and the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming Our Common Wealth’.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of independent Bangladesh, desired the newly independent country to become a member of the Commonwealth.

Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth on April 18, 1972, becoming the 34th member.

Mujib attended the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Ottawa in 1973, Mujib acknowledged the support that his country had received, remarking that ‘[it] was a source of strength to us in the dark and difficult days of our liberation struggle to know that we were not alone, to know that the freedom-loving people of the world were with us.’

When the global crisis wrapped around the world, Mujib advocated for a ‘zone of peace’ in the Indian Ocean, ringed by Commonwealth member countries from the east coast of Africa to the Straits of Malacca.

When Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth, Mujib inherited a war-torn economy and a ravaged infrastructure due to the aftermath of the bloody War of Independence.

Bangladesh can work towards nurturing a strong bond and support structure among the member countries of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth represents a diverse pool of countries with many unique strengths, which presents opportunities to boost trade for all the members.
Bangladesh stands in the 9th position on the Commonwealth members' list. Some of the largest trade partners of Bangladesh are Commonwealth members.
Bangladesh can also benefit from tapping into the immense market of the Commonwealth.

The country has many quality products to export to other Commonwealth countries. Bangladesh excels in the field of ready-made garments (RMG), which constitutes over 80 per cent of total exports.

Other export products include pharmaceuticals, the construction industry, agricultural processing, light engineering, jute products, ceramic products, and many more.
The Commonwealth could facilitate the development of Bangladesh's export capabilities, which would allow Bangladesh to benefit from exporting more, and other Commonwealth countries could benefit from access to Made-in-Bangladesh quality products that offer great value, such as RMG and pharmaceuticals.