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Kathmandu, 29 November: The Embassy of Bangladesh hosted the Bangladesh Fish Festival 2025 on Friday, November 28, at its premises, bringing together ambassadors, heads of missions and diplomats based in Kathmandu, senior government officials from various ministries of Nepal, business leaders, think-tank members, civil society representatives, executives from major hotels, media professionals, and more.
Acting Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, attended the event as the chief guest.

The Acting Foreign Secretary praised the initiative as innovative, noting that such events strengthen cultural ties and contribute to enhancing economic, trade, and people-to-people relations between Nepal and Bangladesh. He highlighted that bilateral cooperation is now advancing toward deeper engagement through increased people-to-people contact, trade and transit, as well as collaboration in energy and investment. He further emphasized the prospects for expanding cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture, and food security between the two friendly nations.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador of Bangladesh Md. Shafiqur Rahman outlined Bangladesh’s rich and traditional fisheries sector, describing the festival as a celebration of the country’s riverine heritage—where fish has long served as a symbol of culture, livelihood, social identity, and national pride. He attributed this heritage to Bangladesh’s unique geography and its thousands of rivers that produce a wide variety of freshwater and marine fish. Highlighting the global reputation of Bangladeshi cuisine and fish for their taste, freshness, and delicacy, he noted the rapid growth in fisheries production, including freshwater fish, aquaculture, marine fish, and crustaceans. The Ambassador stated that the festival serves not only as a cultural showcase but also as an opportunity to deepen regional cooperation and expand business partnerships.

Expressing his delight in bringing Bangladesh’s fisheries heritage to the Himalayas, the Ambassador symbolically linked Nepal–Bangladesh friendship through Maach-Daal-Vaat, blending Bangladesh’s well-known saying “মাছে ভাতে বাঙালি” with Nepal’s beloved Daal-Bhaat. He described the festival as a testament to the shared appreciation for the vibrant and diverse cultures of both nations.

The festival showcased the diversity of Bangladesh’s fisheries sector and aimed to explore emerging market opportunities for Bangladeshi fish and seafood products in Nepal, where demand for high-quality marine items is steadily rising. It also highlighted Bangladesh’s growing expertise in aquaculture, sustainable fish farming, and seafood processing—areas in which Bangladesh has become a global leader. Organizers expressed hope that the event will foster stronger collaboration between Nepali importers, the hospitality industry, and Bangladeshi fisheries exporters in the years ahead.

Guests at the event were treated to an exquisite selection of Bangladesh’s iconic freshwater and marine delicacies, prepared using both traditional and contemporary culinary techniques. The main attractions were Smoked Hilsha (boneless) and Mustard Hilsha, crafted by Bangladeshi chefs. Visitors also enjoyed flavorful Katla curry, grilled lobster, and grilled red snapper. Live cooking counters featuring fried silver pomfret and shrimp tempura drew particular attention. The menu further included authentic curries using long-whisked catfish and helicopter catfish, offering a creative fusion touch. Whole grilled Koral and rich tiger prawn curry added to the diversity, reflecting Bangladesh’s deep culinary and fisheries heritage.

As a prelude to the festival, the Embassy organized a special display of fish varieties—both freshwater and marine—on 24 November 2025. The event was attended by fish importers from Nepal’s hospitality sector and business community.

This marks the first time the Bangladesh Embassy has organized such a large-scale showcase to promote Bangladeshi fish varieties to the international community. The festival welcomed more than 150 guests.

People’s News Monitoring Service.