Lyna Mohamad
The Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei Darussalam ushered in the first day of Syawal with a Hari Raya Aidilfitri reception hosted by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam Nahida Rahman Shumona at the high commission’s premises in Kampong Tanah Jambu.
The high commissioner welcomed her guests, comprising the Bangladeshi community and businesses, non-governmental organisations, government officials and members of associations, followed by a spread of Bangladeshi cuisines often prepared during festive seasons in Bangladesh.
In her brief conversation with the Bulletin, the high commissioner, who will complete her three-year term, shared that her first Hari Raya in the Sultanate, was in 2021.
She recalled that during her first Ramadhan in Brunei, she made friends by attending sungkai where she heard about the local celebration, the palace dress code, decorations and delicacies.
Her first Raya was spent with a few local friends and her Bangladeshi community. She got to visit a few houses and celebrated at the High Commission with a small group of guests, as the Covid-19 restrictions were still in place.
Her second Raya was more colourful as she was invited to Istana Nurul Iman and spent it in the presence of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
