FOX NEWS, New York—Bangladesh Society- a not-for-profit Bangladeshi community organization that promotes, spreads and maintains Bangladeshi culture in the USA — arranged a recognition ceremony in New York to award those who helped the Bengali community across the U.S. in this pandemic and advocated for COVID vaccine support for the people of Bangladesh from the United States. At the ceremony, awards were presented by the Nobel Peace Prize Winner Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Zahid F. Sarder Saddi received a humanitarian award called “Bengal Tiger,” which was presented In New York City at the Columbia University, The Forum auditorium. Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus is a Bangladeshi and is one of only seven individuals to have received the Nobel Peace Prize, the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom and the United States Congressional Gold Medal. He mentioned at the ceremony that he is “so proud to see the Bangladeshi Americans taking a part in humanitarian matters at the highest level in time when people needed them the most.”
At the presentation, Zahid F. Sarder Saddi addressed the press and thanked the U.S. administration, stating that these ongoing donations of Pfizer vaccines are part of the broader commitment by the United States to lead the global COVID-19 response by providing one billion doses of Pfizer vaccine around the world—free of charge—through 2022.
“This donation of Pfizer doses underscores the partnership between our two countries and the generosity of the American people in donating COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh more than to any other country in the world. More importantly, it reflects the work of the U.S. administration and all partners involved in the rapid scale-up of the vaccination campaign to get shots safely and efficiently,” said Saddi.
The renowned social activist is an honorary life member of the Bangladesh Society. He was awarded as he was directly involved in gathering COVID vaccine support for the people of Bangladesh from the United States. He and his community also set up many vaccine awareness places around New York City, where the largest populated Bangladeshi community can be found in the five boroughs.
“We all have to come forward for the services of humanity. If we can work as united for the sake of humanity, we will overcome this pandemic within the shortest possible time. Taking a part of a bigger role as a Bangladeshi American community, we will stand together shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the world. And as a whole, we will defeat this unprecedented time of all,” Saddi added.
According to AFP’s database, only about 10 percent of Bangladesh’s population has been fully vaccinated. The impoverished country of about 170 million people, which neighbors India, has imposed some of the world’s longest lockdowns in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Hard-hit Bangladesh is now the largest recipient of U.S. COVID-19 vaccine donations — with over 61 million total doses — among all countries worldwide. The United States donated another 10 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Bangladesh via COVAX, sustaining the effort to expand vaccinations across the country.
Saddi hails from Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, and has been involved in the Bangladeshi community in the USA for a large part of his entire life. His community and social activities played an important role within the Bangladeshi community here in the USA.
