Commonwealth, also called Commonwealth of Nations, formerly (1931-49) British Commonwealth of Nations, a free association of sovereign states comprising the United Kingdom and a number of its former dependencies who have chosen to maintain ties of friendship and practical cooperation and who acknowledge the British monarch as symbolic head of their association. In 1965 the Commonwealth Secretariat was established in London to organize and coordinate Commonwealth activities.

There is a joke that Commonwealth has neither wealth nor there is commonness among the Commonwealth nations. But the fact is that the Commonwealth has no charter and no formal structure. The leaders meet at every two years in a Commonwealth country.

The Commonwealth started with Britain,, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. The Commonwealth structure, that we know of today, commenced in 1949 with the admission of India as a member although it has a President of its own. Prior to 1949, the member-nations of Commonwealth had the British monarch as their heads of state and were within the direct allegiance of the British monarch.

People in Commonwealth countries in Asia, African, Caribbean, and Americas, the Pacific and Americas have observed the Commonwealth Day on March 11. The Commonwealth comprises 53 countries, across all continents. The members have a combined population of 2.4 billion people, almost a third of the world population, of which 1.26 billion live in India, 220 million live in Pakistan and 94% live in Asia and Africa combined.

A new theme is chosen annually for Commonwealth Day, and as a focus for activities undertaken during the ensuing year led by the Governments of Commonwealth member states and by Commonwealth organisations.

The Day has been observed with a broad range of activities including faith, civic gatherings, debates, school assemblies, flag-raising ceremonies, street parties, cultural events, and a multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey in London.

Themes are agreed in consultation with representatives of Commonwealth civil society and presented for approval by Her Majesty the Queen, Head of the Commonwealth. The theme chosen for 2019 is 'A Connected Commonwealth'.

In 2019, the 70th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth, was observed and the theme 'A Connected Commonwealth' speaks of the enduring practical value and global engagement made possible as a result of the determination of our culturally diverse and widely dispersed family of nations to cooperate and work together in friendship and goodwill.

Governments, institutions and people connect at many levels, including through parliaments and universities have celebrated the Day. The Commonwealth countries work together to protect the natural environment and the ocean which are shared and that connect many of our nations shore to shore. We cooperate on trade to encourage inclusive economic empowerment for all people - particularly women and youth and marginalised communities. We take part in friendly sporting rivalry and encourage our young people to participate in sport for development and peace.

As a connected Commonwealth we collaborate by varied means in ever closer accord around the shared values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter.

Commonwealth offers opportunities for the people, governments, and institutions of this richly diverse family of nations to connect and work together at many levels through far reaching and deep-rooted network of friendship and goodwill.

Within the Commonwealth there are Commonwealth Foundation, Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Business Council and Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation.

The Commonwealth of Nations is run on the basis of democratic principles and usually a military regime is expelled from the organization.

The secretary-general is elected by the Heads of Government at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings for terms of four years; previously, until 2000, a term was five years. The current Secretary-General is Dominica's Patricia Scotland.

Barrister Harun ur Rashid, Former, Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.