President of G.A. Humayun Rasheed Choudhury, Honoured 1986 Nov 04:

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U.N. PROGRAMME HONOURS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT UNITED NATIONS-

The Peace Meditations held a special programme to honour Humayun Rasheed Choudhury, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and the President of the U.N. General Assembly. “I am deeply touched and overwhelmed,” said Choudhury. During the programme the U.N. singers sang a song honouring the Bengali leader, and Choudhury sang two songs for the audience.

Shraddha

The Diplomat Bulletin

General Assembly President Choudhury at the piano to sing a few songs during a programme, held in his honor, of the Peace Meditation of the United Nations. Leader of the meditation, a fellow Bengali Sri Chinmoy (seated in front row left), presented Choudhury with a -plaque in recognition of his service to the international community and a cake for his upcoming birthday.

Programme:

1. Welcome (Adhiratha Keefe)

Welcome to our programme in honour of the President of the General Assembly.

Over the years the Meditation group has had the good fortune to meet with several Presidents of the General Assembly. This day Our programme in Honour of President Chowdhury has a extra significance for us because both our guest President Choudhury and Sri Chinmoy share the same land of Birth: Bangladesh.

Today, like in our past programmes, the Meditation group choir will perform several songs written by Sri Chinmoy . I thought it might also be of interest to point out that our guest, as well as being the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and the President of the General Assembly is also a singer who sometimes heard on Radio. Perhaps it is in these similarities that we come to realise how much of a family we really are.

To begin our programme, I would like to humbly request Sri Chinmoy to lead us in meditation, after which the choir will sing

2. Meditation (Sri Chlnmoy)

3. President of the GA. Song: “A Heart for Oneness-Tree”

4. Sri Chinmoy Sings

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5. Introduction of President of the G.A. (by A.K.,)

Mr. Choudhury, who has had a distinguished career, has served in many countries. I wanted to mention some highlights.hat t I felt our group today might like to be reminded

Mr. Choudury studied for the English Bar and was a Member of the Inner Temple, London.

He obtained a diploma from the London Institute of World Affairs and received the graduate certificate of honour from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

He served as chief of the Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi in 1971—72 during which he negotiated the recognition of Bangladesh with over 40 countries .

In June 1982 He was appointed Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States of America.

He was the leader of the Bangladesh delegation to the 39th Session of the General Assembly and presided over a number of sessions as Vice President of that body

Mr. Choudhury became the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh in July 1985 and elected to his countries Parliament in May 1986

President Choudhury is fluent in Bengali, English, Urdu, French and Italian and has a working knowledge in a number of other languages .

In 1984 he was awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize from the University of William and Mary, Virginia, USA in recognition of his Contribution to World Peace through his diplomatic Activities

We are very honoured and grateful to have with us today His Excellency, The President of the General Assembly Mr. Humayun Rasheed Choudhury.

at this time Sri Chinmoy will make a presentation of a plaque and also a cake in Honour of he President’s birthday.

6. Sri Chinmoy makes presentation to President

Plaque (below)

Birthday Cake (above)

7. President of G.A. Speaks

During the hour of meditation and music, Sri Chinmoy performed a special Bengali song he had composed for President Choudhury and also presented the President with a plaque and a surprise birthday cake. After nationals Joined the Meditation Group choir for the Bangladesh national anthem, the President-also well known as a singer in his own country-performed two Bengali songs for the audience. Following is a statement made by President Choudhury as well as the music and lyrics of the songs performed by Sri Chinmoy and the choir during the programme.

Excerpt from Statement by H. E. Mr. Humayun Rasheed Choudhury, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and President of the forty-first session of the General Assembly: “I had heard of the Sri Chinmoy Peace Meditation, and I was fascinated by the philosophy of peace that you have been propagating. We are all working for in the UN – not only the absence of conflagration; we also mean peace, external and internal – that is, peace of the environment and peace of the soul. Combination of both will lead to a better understanding between man and man, between nations and peoples. If we can bring about this state of affairs, we shall see the end of conflicts. Unfortunately, we are living in an extremely dangerous world. Man possesses enough weapons of mass destruction, if even some of them are unleashed on humankind, all forms of life on earth would disappear in seconds. So any message of peace that could bring about peace both in the soul of man and also between man and man is very commendable.

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“I am sure that your efforts – in combination with the efforts of diplomats, who essentially want peace also, and the efforts of the United Nations – will be able to save mankind from the dangers that loom large and threaten us with total extinction. Our combined efforts can save mankind from a catastrophe. It a distinctive privilege to have joined you today. I feel very humble for the things that you have said, the beautiful song about me and, Sri Chinmoy, for the song you composed and sang yourself. I am deeply touched and overwhelmed. Thank you. Peace be to you all.”