Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director Masud Jamil Khan hosted a reception on January 10 at his Baridhara residence celebrating his appointment as Honorary Consul of Ireland in Dhaka.

The government of Ireland appointed Masud as its Honorary Consul with jurisdiction for the People's Republic of Bangladesh recently.

Cosmos Group Managing Director Enayetullah Khan, President, Cosmos Foundation and former Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, diplomats stationed in Dhaka, academics, city elite; and former civil and military officials attended the reception.

"I want to take advantage of this event to make an announcement that will gladden your hearts. It is that I have just been named the Honorary Consul of Ireland in Bangladesh. I know it is an onerous responsibility. What I also know, and this gives me great satisfaction, is that I will be able to discharge it effectively, because all of you will be there to support me and hold my hands," Masud Khan said.

"I shall of course make best efforts to widen and deepen collaboration between Ireland and Bangladesh. as also between us all," he added.

Masud is also a director of United News of Bangladesh, the country's largest private news agency, and Dhaka Courier, an independent news magazine.

Masud pursued higher studies at Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, and studied Finance at Harvard Business School.

An avid lover of nature and a committed environmentalist is also a member of WildTeam.

He is also an alumnus of the United States Department of Commerce and a member of the Vancouver Board of Trade.

Khan has represented Bangladesh in many international economic and media related forums.

At the American School in Dhaka, he bagged the AISD Triathlon Championship and Brojen Das Swimming Competition Award in 2001.

Khan is the maternal grandson of Shaheed Brig Gen Jamil Ahmed (B U), who stood up alone for Bangabandhu in his darkest hour.