Bangladeshi officials have announced that they will not attend the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
This decision is due to government restrictions on non-essential foreign travel at government expense.
Mominul Islam, the acting director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), confirmed that they received an invitation from the IMD about a month ago. He stated, “The India Meteorological Department invited us to their 150th anniversary celebrations. We maintain good relations and continue to collaborate with them. However, we will not be attending the event because we are obligated to limit non-essential foreign trips funded by the government.” Islam also mentioned the regular communication between the two agencies, noting his recent visit to India on December 20, 2024, for a separate meeting with Indian meteorologists.
The IMD has invited several neighbouring nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, as well as countries from the Middle East and Southeast Asia. A senior IMD official stated, “We have invited all the countries that were part of India when the IMD was established 150 years ago to join this celebration.” While Pakistan has already agreed to participate, Bangladesh has not yet responded.
Founded in 1875 during British colonial rule, the IMD was created in response to devastating weather events, including the cyclone that struck Kolkata in 1864 and subsequent monsoon-related disasters in 1866 and 1871. The IMD was initially headquartered in Kolkata but has relocated several times, moving to Shimla in 1905, Pune in 1928, and finally Delhi in 1944. The department will officially celebrate its 150th anniversary on January 15, 2025.
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