BCN celebrates 10 years of establishment
Bhutanese Community in The Netherlands (BCN) celebrated its 10 year of establishment with activities involving discussion about community issues and cultural presentation on 27 October at the Grand Hall of Indian Business and Cultural Centre in Rijswijk.
The event was attended by several Dutch dignitaries from the political, bureaucratic and civil societies circles, Non-resident Nepalese community and large numbers of Dutch Bhutanese community members.
BCN President Ram Karki apprised the attendees about organisation’s activities and financial position of the last financial year.
The cultural presentation included dances, singing, deusi bhailo by the community members. Paying Dutch tranditional musical instrument “Draaimolen” along with singing by Marian and Ariette was the attraction of the event.
BCN founding member Aiman Samal spoke at length about the circumstances and background of forming BCN back in 2009. He outlined his farsighted vision of the community organisation and encouraged every community members to come forward to work for the welfare of the community selflessly.
Shree Ram Kandel, President of Non Resident Nepali Association Netherlands (NRN NL) congratulated BCN for decade of successful operation of the community organisation and expressed his hope that NRN NL and BCN could further work together more effectively towards the welfare of both the communities as well as for the welfare of the needy people in Nepal.
Senior Dutch politician Jay Prahladsingh stressed the importance of preserving one’s culture, tradition, language, food and history no matter where we live. Walter Van De Klink, a senior bureaucrat at the Dutch government, congratulated the community for making rapid progress that Bhutanese community made towards integration.
Shashi Paudyal, President of Nepal Development Academy revisited his days a decade ago when he actively involved in supporting the newly arrived Bhutanese families for resettlement in Netherlands.
BCN was established on 19 September in 2009.