Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the Philippines, His Excellency F.M. Borhan Uddin, and Social Secretary Nathan Lapada were greeted by the University officials, headed by President Angelo A. Jimenez, during their courtesy visit to UP last January 22, 2024.
Ambassador F. M. Borhan Uddin is a career diplomat and joined the Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1995. His diplomatic assignments abroad include postings in the Bangladesh Mission in Egypt as Third/Second Secretary (1999-2000), in Dubai as Vice Consul (2000-2002), in Seoul as First Secretary (2002-2003), in Colombo as Counsellor/Minister (2012-2015). He was also assigned as Consul General of Bangladesh in Istanbul (2015-2017) and in Jeddah (2017-2019) respectively.
In the Ministry, he served in various capacities, including Chief Coordinator of Corona Cell and Director General of several Wings. Earlier, he served as Director, Senior Assistant Secretary, and Assistant Secretary in different wings of the Ministry.
Ambassador Uddin graduated and completed his Master’s in Sociology from the University of Dhaka. He also graduated in Law from the University of London.
Ambassador Uddin assumed the charges as Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Republic of the Philippines in November 2021.
Left to right: Social Secretary Nathan Lapada, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the Philippines, His Excellency F.M. Borhan Uddin, University President Angelo A. Jimenez, Vice President for Public Affairs, Dr. Roland Tolentino, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Imee Su Martinez
Photo credits to Mr. Misael Bacani, MPRO, UP OVPPA
The President began the discussion by recalling His Excellency’s previous engagement as a diplomat. His Excellency shared his history of travels and ministry in the countries of Egypt, South Korea, and Bangladesh. His Excellency has also met previous UP President, Danilo Concepcion in the past.
The discussion then proceeded with the Philippines and Bangladesh having strong economic and social ties, manifesting in agricultural collaborations and assistance, as well as academic visits between universities from the Philippines and Bangladesh. Both countries also have cultural similarities in clothing where women from Bangladesh wear Saris and Filipino Indigenous women in the south wear Malongs.
His Excellency, Ambassador Uddin being toured around President Jimenez’s office
The President and the Ambassador continued the discussion by deepening the arts field. VP Tolentino posited collaborations with the embassy through Asian Arts Programs and the exhibition of art done by UP students, emphasizing the importance of exposure and experience.
Over a plate of halal snacks, the discussion touched on numerous topics and propositions for future engagement. Notably, the President and His Excellency delved into the similarities of both countries, the educational need to expand and expose students to enriching experiences, and the linkage of UP constituent universities to partner with universities from Bangladesh interested in collaborating in the fields of medicine, nursing, and textile studies.