The 2014 Bangladesh Francophonie Week starts tomorrow, a press conference held at the Alliance Française de Dhaka announced yesterday.
The event aims at celebrating the French language and facilitating exchange of cultural values between Bangladesh and the Francophone community.
Seven Francophone countries, France, Canada, Egypt, Morocco, Qatar, Switzerland and Vietnam, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) and Alliance Française de Chittagong (AFC) are organising the events in Dhaka and Chittagong.
Egypt’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Mahmoud Ezzat said: “Celebrating the week in Bangladesh has a special meaning as Bangladesh is a country like Egypt, very proud of its own identity, language, culture and history.”
The celebration is first time being held in Chittagong. Although Bangladesh has at least 10,000 French speakers, it is not a member of the International Organisation of ‘La Francophonie’ (OIF), noted the speakers.
Michel Trinquier, French Ambassador to Bangladesh said thousands of Bangladeshis join AFD and AFC every year to discover the new language and culture.
“The festival is a chance for people to learn and speak the language and share common thoughts,” said Nguyen Quang Thuc, Ambassador of Vietnam in Bangladesh.
Nadia’s Journey, a Canadian film on women’s lives in Algeria, will be screened at AFD tomorrow and on March 20.
On Friday, French courses will be offered and eight AFD students would participate in a French debate. The winner of the debate would be awarded with a trip to France.
On Saturday, a cartoon exhibition titled illustrating 10 innovative French words will be held at AFC.
Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Heather Cruden and Said Kasmi, deputy head of Mission, Morocco Embassy in Bangladesh was present at the conference among others.