Cambridge University Bangladesh Society is an official society in the University of Cambridge . It is a non-political organisation that exists to foster social, intellectual and spiritual links between all those who share a common interest in Bangladesh at one of the world's great seats of learning.
We are a very open society and warmly welcome people of all backgrounds, not only those of Bangladeshi origin, to enrich the diversity of our membership. Please see our Membership page for further details.
Students of Bangladeshi origin, whether British, European, American or from other countries, including Bangladesh , are becoming increasingly visible at Cambridge . From Birmingham to Barisal , Dundee to Dhaka , Stratford to Sylhet, or Philadelphia to Rajshahi there is a large Bangladeshi diaspora. The society upholds the fact that we live in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-faith Britain and has every confidence our scholarly community at Cambridge will play a positive role in sustaining this. CUBS also supports issues of the Developing World such as global health, education and the eradication of poverty as well as, quite crucially, the Environment. The society views South Asia as a region where freedom and prosperity should be the lot of all its citizens.
A distinct feature of our society is the hosting of distinguished guest speakers to deliver lectures at Cambridge . We have another exciting programme of speaker events planned for the coming year. Our inaugural speaker was Britain's first Ambassador from a Muslim and minority ethnic background, the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh , Mr Anwar Choudhury. Notable speakers who will be coming to Cambridge this year include the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Court of St James ( United Kingdom ) and Baroness Pola Manzil Uddin, the first Muslim woman and first person of Bangladeshi heritage elevated to the British House of Lords. Other prominent persons we expect to host include the writer Monica Ali, author of Brick Lane , and Dr Irene Khan, Secretary-General of the world's largest human rights organisation, Amnesty International, who is the first woman and Asian (Bangladeshi) to hold this position.
Cambridge University Bangladesh Society is particularly honoured to be able to welcome Mr Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and chairperson of BRAC, the largest NGO on earth and a pioneer of global development. We also look forward to hosting Professor Muhammad Yunus, who established micro-credit and is the founder and chairman of Grameen Bank. These are two men of remarkable vision and innovation who have transformed the way the poorest of the poor might empower themselves through development models that are being replicated throughout the world. Further details of these and other events will be posted on the website so please do visit us regularly for updates.
A wide range of social events take place such as the annual Cambridge Bengal Dinner in Lent Term on 21st February to commemorate Ekushey - Bangla is demographically the fifth most spoken language in the world and UNESCO has declared 21st February International Mother Language Day in tribute to those who gave their life in the Bangla Language Movement of 1952. There is also a Bengal Garden Party at the end of Easter Term and other gatherings to commemorate both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. Interested parties should sign up for our society mailing list to receive notification on upcoming events.
Bangladesh and the Bangla language have a great literary and cultural heritage that has produced such luminaries as Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindra Nath Thakur (Tagore), the Nobel Laureate for literature. The society also presents an excellent opportunity for keeping these cultural traditions alive.
To find out more about the society and what we do, please browse through our other pages or contact any of the committee members. The society has a thriving membership, many of whom are from Britain but also from Bangladesh and lots of other countries too.
If you wish to become involved we are always looking for dynamic new people for the vitality and essential continuity of the society. Every enquiry, comment and suggestion is welcome. We want to hear from you.
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