This date is celebrated annually in the state of New York as Bangladeshi Immigrant Day, inaugurated in 2019 to recognize the contributions of Bangladeshi Americans to New York and commemorate Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 1974 speech at the United Nations, the first speech delivered in Bengali at the United Nations. The speech was translated into English by Bangladeshi diplomat Faruq Ahmed Choudhury. Bengalis from what is now Bangladesh have immigrated to the U.S. since the British colonial era, but their numbers increased with the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 and due to the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which allowed thousands to legally immigrate regardless of their education and profession. New York is the state with the highest percentage of Bangladeshi Americans, and New York City is home to the largest Bangladeshi community in the U.S. Most live in Queens, and Bangladeshi enclaves have also emerged in Bronx, Brooklyn, and Long Island. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech to the U.N. on this date in 1974 took place during a period of depression and famine in Bangladesh. He used the motto "friendship with all, enmity with none," which he had adopted as Bangladesh's foreign policy. He highlighted the importance of peace, humanity, brotherhood, and interdependence to solve the global economic crisis and proposed a uniform global economic system. Rahman said that his country would work to solve global issues, and thanked those who helped with Bangladeshi freedom. The speech was was praised, especially by representatives of third-world member states. U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim called the speech "candid and constructive," and British Foreign Secretary James Callaghan described it as "powerful." Journalist Santosh Gupta said Rahman established the status of the Bengali language internationally. Credits: https://anydayguide.com/calendar/6078 https://w.wiki/DKch I had heard that the club started Thursday evening A rides, on a consistent route with not too many miles or too much ascent, but challenging, going up Branciforte, (the easy side of) Navarra, and Glenwood to the top. Plus a 2.4-mile loop around the Spring Lakes neighborhood at up to 9.7%. I decided to join that ride, even though I'm not an A rider: I knew I'd be very slow on those hills, so I'd likely fall behind. I started from Maryann's on the west side, where my van was parked. An easy ride over to the start at Bicycle Trip. It was a small group, about eight riders. I felt strong going up Branciforte, but I lost sight of the rest of the group before reaching Navarra. I turned around the top of the first hill on Glenwood, but I could see I wouldn't finish before sunset, and I didn't want to be descending Glen Canyon in the dark. (Although I used to do just that as part of my commute, sometimes in the rain!) I was surprised to see part of the group coming up Glenwood as I descended. I don't know how I got past them. I skipped the Spring Lakes loop and headed over to Glen Canyon to return to Santa Cruz. Rather than go back to Bicycle Trip, I took a more direct back to the West Side. I finished well before sunset. A short ride, but I've been glad to ride more often this week!