Dr. Abdul Hai Elected in Science and Int’l Committee of the Bonn City Council

Bonn, January 30 (OurVoice): Former DW journalist and social democratic politician Dr. Abdul Hai got elected as Expert Member in the Science, Europe and International Committee of the Bonn City Council.
In the special session of the City Council of Bonn on Thursday councillors elected competent citizens from different sectors for 16 committee to ensure the equal representation of the public opinion and public interest in the policy making process. The 21-member committee for Science, Europe and International Affairs included Elke Apelt and Dr Abdul Hai from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). Seven members are elected from CDU, 5 members from Green Party, 2 members from the Left and AFD, BBB, FDP, Volt and BSW/SBI each has got one seat in this committee. This committee will represent the city dwellers in the council for the science, Europe and international issues till the end of the council in 2030. 
Former journalist of Deutsche Welle (DW) and Editor of print magazine Schimanto (Grenze) Dr. Abdul Hai expressed gratitude to the party members and the city councillors for electing him for this important committee, which is key to the European and international partnership and cooperation in the scientific and technological development and growth in this UN city.

In an official statement Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) AHM Bazlur Rahman and his team congratulated Dr Hai and added, "We extend our warmest congratulations on your election as an expert member of the Bonn City Council’s Science, Europe and International Affairs Committee. Your selection through the Council’s special session reflects the confidence placed in your experience and public service, and we are pleased to see you take on this important mandate through the current council term ending in 2030."

The statement also said, "Your professional journey, from your work as a journalist with Deutsche Welle and leading national media in Bangladesh to your sustained civic engagement in Bonn since 2009, demonstrates a rare combination of analytical rigor, public communication, and commitment to democratic participation. Your continued contribution to social and civic initiatives, alongside your engagement with the SPD since 2020, adds further depth to the perspective you will bring to the Committee’s work. We also recognise your long-standing contributions to development cooperation and evidence-based advocacy, including your award-winning reporting and your work with organisations and initiatives focused on social inclusion, poverty reduction, and community empowerment. These experiences align closely with the Committee’s responsibilities at the intersection of science, Europe, and international partnership, particularly in a city with a strong UN presence and global outlook.

BNNRC wished him every success in this role. It added, "We look forward to continued engagement and cooperation, and we remain confident that your service will strengthen constructive dialogue and public-interest policymaking for the people of Bonn."

Notably, Dr. Abdul Hai has been living and engaged in several socio-cultural and civic activities in Bonn since 2009 and actively working with SPD since 2020. He has worked in DW, Bangladesh Television (BTV), Bangladesh News Agency (BSS), the Daily Star and the New Nation for about one decade. With two other colleagues he won the Hostwriter Media Award from Berlin in 2016.
Dr. Hai has worked with One World Network NRW for five years since 2017. He has been honored with Panos Fellowship and Panos South Asia Award in 2007 for his series of in-depth reports on poverty alleviation and poverty reduction strategies in Bangladesh. In the development field, he has worked with Life Learning Development e.V., Afridat Innovation UG, BASUG Diaspora and Development, CCD Bangladesh, PANOS and Bangladesh NGOs‘ Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) with significant responsibilities.