AKA Dhaka welcomes esteemed emissaries of diplomacy | Aga Khan Academies

AKA Dhaka welcomes esteemed emissaries of diplomacy

24 September 2023

On Thursday, 21 September, the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka welcomed esteemed emissaries to share their diplomatic insights with Diploma Programme (DP) students. The visit played a vital role in broadening the students’ understanding of global politics – part of their learning programme in DP.       

The diplomats consisted of Her Excellency Mrs Marie Masdupuy, Ambassador of France; His Excellency Mr Yousef S Y Ramadan, Ambassador of Palestine; Her Excellency Ms Sheela Pillai, Head of Mission, Consulate of the Republic of Singapore;, Monsignor Marinko Antolovic,  Charge' d'Affaires a.i. Apostolic Nunciature in Bangladesh Embassy of the Holy See-Vatican; and Mr Waise Rizaee, representing the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Accompanying the global and diverse array of dignitaries was the Aga Khan Development Network Resident Diplomatic Representative for Bangladesh, His Excellency Mr Munir M Merali. The honoured guests said they had been curious to learn more about the Academy and looking forward to visiting the campus for some time. 

During the Q&A session of the visit, the students were curious to learn about the visitors’ diplomatic roles. They were informed that being an ambassador involved becoming the face and voice of their own country in places they were assigned to. The visitors expressed their own country’s needs and goals to a host government, and while in Bangladesh, they learnt as much as they could to build up diplomatic, cultural and economic relationships. 

  

One student, Aribah Farzeen Shah, was curious to understand the diplomats’ views on women pursuing careers in politics. H.E Mrs Masdupuy commented on the struggle to empower women to be involved with politics in her own country.  

“Women were not attracted to regional or national politics, and they saw it as being dirty or manipulative,” she said.  

This has been overcome by some legislation, H.E Mrs Masdupuy mentioned, and that the development of a nation sometimes needs help from the power of the law. 

The diplomats’ visit proved to be an insightful visit for the students and staff alike, and the Academy looks forward to hosting these individuals again in the future.