Bangladesh will not participate in the 150th anniversary program of IMD, why did Yunus government take this decision?

New Delhi: Bangladesh will not participate in the 150th Foundation Day celebrations of India Meteorological Department (IMD). Bangladeshi authorities have taken this decision citing restrictions on non-essential foreign trips at government expense. This ceremony will take place on January 15, 2025. IMD has invited many neighboring countries, including Pakistan.

Why is Bangladesh not going?
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) acting director Mominul Islam confirmed that he/she had received the invitation from the IMD a month ago. he/she said that the India Meteorological Department had invited us to its 150th anniversary celebrations. We have good relations with them and we continue to cooperate with them. Islam further explained that we are not attending this event because of the government-funded obligation to limit non-essential foreign travel. Islam stressed regular contact between the two agencies. he/she informed that he/she had gone to India for a separate meeting with Indian meteorologists on December 20, 2024. This shows that cooperation in the field of meteorology continues between the two countries, even though Bangladesh is not attending this special event.

Who will be included?
IMD has invited many neighboring countries for its 150th Foundation Day celebrations. These include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives as well as countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. “We have invited all the countries that were part of India when IMD was established 150 years ago,” a top IMD official said. “Pakistan has already agreed to join the programme, but Bangladesh has not responded,” the official added.

History of IMD
IMD was established in 1875 during the British rule. This was done after devastating weather events, such as the cyclone that hit Kolkata in 1864 and the monsoon disasters of 1866 and 1871. The headquarters of IMD was initially in Kolkata. Later it was shifted to Shimla in 1905, Pune in 1928 and finally to Delhi in 1944. IMD is now going to celebrate its 150th anniversary on January 15, 2025. This ceremony is an important milestone in the history of meteorology in India. Although the absence of Bangladesh may be a bit disappointing, it will not affect the ongoing cooperation in the field of meteorology between the two countries.