Celebrating Bangladesh Independence Day

Today in Parliament, Abigail passed a motion acknowledging the 55th Bangladesh Independence Day, celebrating the nation’s resilience and ongoing pursuit of democracy.

Abigail said:

I move:

(1) That this House notes that:

26 March 2025 is the 55th Bangladesh Independence Day, which marks 55 years of Bangladesh being an independent, sovereign nation and commemorates the day that Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan in 1971,
Bangladesh Independence Day celebrates the Bangladeshi peoples’ strength and resilience in fighting for national sovereignty, democracy, liberation, justice, unity, equity and a fair future for generations to come,
on Sunday 23 March 2025, the Bangladesh Community Council hosted an event at Lakemba Library Hall to celebrate Bangladesh Independence Day as well as Ramadan Iftar dinner. The event was attended by many community members and guests, who gathered to celebrate Independence Day as an eternal source of pride for the Bangladeshi people in Bangladesh and across the world including the Bangladeshi-Australian community, and
the people of Bangladesh continue to face serious challenges, corruption, threats and instability following the collapse of the former regime led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It is vital that the international community stands with the people of Bangladesh during this critical juncture, as the nation faces the renewed challenge of restructuring and rebuilding its democratic system and public institutions, systematically dismantling corruption and restoring public trust in democratic governance, and holding those responsible for human rights abuses to account.

(2) That this House affirms its solidarity with the Bangladeshi peoples’ ongoing fight for democracy, justice, national sovereignty and stability.

(3) That this House calls on the Australian Government to stand with the people of Bangladesh and advocate for a fair and free democratic transition and electoral roadmap to be put in place urgently and with electoral integrity, accountability and strong anti-corruption measures.

Motion agreed to.

Read the transcript in Hansard here.

26 March 2025

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

No matter who you are or what you do, everyone has the right to share in the wellbeing of our country.

But at the moment the essentials so many of us need – a place to call home, food on the table, and everyday essentials like electricity, internet, medicine and water – are simply out of reach.

Instead of supporting us, our government is choosing to prop up huge corporations with massive subsidies, and to give away our collective wealth through record tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left to live paycheck to paycheck or trapped in the dehumanising bureaucracy of our existing welfare system.

Now, in the midst of a pandemic, and following quickly on the heels of the bushfire crisis, more of us than ever before are experiencing what it’s like to lose our jobs, be without a home, or worry about where the food for our next meal will come from.

It’s time for us to choose to prioritise the wellbeing of everyone.

And that’s exactly what the Universal Wellbeing Payment will do.

It’s a regular payment made to each of us to ensure our minimum standard of wellbeing. No means testing, no bureaucracy, no strings attached.

It’s the amount you’re owed simply for being a participant in our society.

It means you are free to live your life and contribute to society as you see fit, whether you’re a carer, an artist, a student, a parent, an entrepreneur – you can get on with what you need to do, knowing that you will always be supported regardless of your income.

It means that we’re choosing to structure our economy for the benefit of all of us, not using our collective wealth to prop up the interests of big business and the wealthy few.

It means you will always have what you need to live a good life, no matter what.

The Universal Wellbeing Payment is for everyone. Help us make it happen.

For more information, head to universalwellbeingpayment.com.au

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Celebrating Bangladesh Independence Day

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

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