Central Alberta, Canada - The Bangabandhu Research and Development Institute (BRDI) has been established in Central Alberta under the leadership of Delwar Jahid, a senior research faculty member and Executive of the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Canada Unit Command. Zahid, a renowned freedom fighter, writer, journalist, and media personality, spearheads this initiative, which officially began on Sunday.
Dedicated to honoring the legacy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, for his pivotal role in the country's independence and democratic movements, BRDI aims to promote interest, understanding, and appreciation of Bengali political culture in Canada. Since 2019, this initiative has been fostering these goals through the website "Bangabandhu's Bangladesh." The institute also seeks to encourage intergenerational dialogue about Bengali heritage.
The mission of BRDI is not just to impart Bangabandhu's philosophy, thoughts, spirit, and ideals but to ensure that these values resonate with and guide future generations. The institute is launching applied research projects with a team of five distinguished professors and researchers from Bangladesh and abroad. During the inaugural function, President Delwar Jahid spoke about the profound significance of this new journey. The institute also announced its board, which includes Vice President Moshiur Rahman and Secretary/Treasurer Rayhana.
In a testament to the continuity and evolution of initiatives, in November 2023, the Canada-based international charity organization 'The Step to Humanity' Association, after two years of dedicated efforts, transitioned its leadership to veteran freedom fighter Delwar Jahid. Jahid, who had been instrumental in the organization's work, stepped down as Executive Director to focus on establishing BRDI and his academic pursuits.
For the past two years, 'The Step to Humanity' efforts have aimed to improve the quality of life for climate change victims in Bangladesh through projects addressing poverty reduction, health, sanitation, education, and skill development. Additionally, the Coastal 19 Group of the Bangladesh North American Journalists Network, where Jahid currently serves as President, has been actively working on maritime economy projects to help Bangladesh progress towards a prosperous and technologically advanced future.
