The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kathmandu hosted the Bangladesh Fish Festival at its premises on Friday.
Acting Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, attended the program as the Guest of Honor.
The event opened with the playing of the national anthems of Nepal and Bangladesh and welcome speech by the Ambassador.
In his address, Acting Foreign Secretary of Nepal commended the initiative as an innovative one, noting that such events strengthen cultural bridges and contribute to enhancing economic, trade, and people-to-people ties between Nepal and Bangladesh, reads a statement issued by the Embassy of Bangladesh on Kathmandu.
He mentioned that the bilateral collaboration between Nepal and Bangladesh is moving towards deeper engagements through increasing people-to- people contact, trade and transit and energy and investment. It has further prospects for expanding cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture and food security between the two friendly nations.
Ambassador Md Shafiqur Rahman highlighted Bangladesh’s rich and traditional fisheries sector, terming the festival as Bangladesh’s riverine heritage, where fish has long been a symbol of our culture, livelihood, social fabric and national identity, according to the statement.
He attributed this historical tradition and heritage to the country’s unique geography and topography endowed with a thousand of rivers producing a wide variety of freshwater and sea fish.
Referring to the global fame of Bangladeshi cuisine/ fishes for their taste, freshness, and delicacy, he pointed to the specialty of the rapidly growing fisheries sector with production of freshwater (inland open-water) fish, aquaculture, marine fish, and crustacean. He noted that the festival serves not only as a cultural celebration but also as an opportunity to deepen regional cooperation and expand business partnerships.
The Ambassador expressed his pleasure in organizing this showcase of Bangladeshi fisheries in the Himalayas and labeled Nepal-Bangladesh friendship with Maach-Daal-Vaat combining Bangladesh’s popular saying “মাছে ভাতে বাঙালি and Nepali Daal-Vaat.
It is for the first time Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu organized such a showcase event promoting Bangladeshi variety of fishes to the global community.
Ambassadors/Heads of Missions and diplomats based in Kathmandu, senior officials from various Ministries of the Government of Nepal, business leaders, members of Think Tanks and civil society, managers and executives of the luxury hotels and members of the media among others attended the program.
