Bangladesh Fish Festival-2025 celebrated in Kathmandu. Photo: Bangladesh Embassy Nepal

DHAKA, Nov 29, 2025 (BSS) – Bangladesh Fish Festival-2025 was celebrated in Kathmandu, bringing together diplomats, senior Nepali officials, business leaders, media representatives and members of civil society in a major cultural and economic showcase hosted by the Embassy of Bangladesh.

The event, held at the Embassy premises on Friday was graced by Acting Foreign Secretary of Nepal Krishna Prasad Dhakal as Guest of Honour, said a press release received here today. 

Ambassadors, heads of missions, hotel executives, think-tank members and representatives from the Nepali business community joined the celebration.

The programme began with the national anthems of Bangladesh and Nepal, followed by welcome remarks from Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Md Shafiqur Rahman. 

In his speech, he highlighted Bangladesh’s rich riverine heritage, describing fish as an enduring symbol of the country’s culture, livelihood and identity. 

He noted Bangladesh’s globally recognized fisheries sector, spanning freshwater, aquaculture, marine fish and crustaceans, and emphasized that the festival not only celebrates culture but also opens avenues for regional cooperation and business partnerships.

In his remarks, Acting Foreign Secretary of Nepal praised the initiative as “innovative,” saying such events strengthen cultural bridges and reinforce growing ties between Nepal and Bangladesh.
 
He said bilateral collaboration continued to deepen through expanding people-to-people contact, trade, transit, energy cooperation and now fisheries and food security.

The festival showcased a wide range of Bangladesh’s iconic freshwater and marine delicacies, including smoked and mustard Hilsha, grilled lobster, red snapper, Katla curry, shrimp tempura, fried silver pomfret, whole grilled Koral and tiger prawn curry.
 
Live counters drew significant attention, offering visitors a taste of Bangladesh’s culinary diversity.

The Embassy also organised a display of fresh and marine fish on 24 November as a prelude to the event, attended by Nepali hospitality sector representatives and major fish importers.
 
The initiative aimed to explore growing market opportunities for Bangladeshi fish and seafood in Nepal, amid rising local demand for high-quality marine products.

Festival decorations featured colourful posters from the Bangladesh Tourism Board showcasing the country’s cultural heritage, alongside displays highlighting the heroic July mass uprising and Bangladesh’s forward march toward “Bangladesh 2.0” rooted in liberal democracy, fraternity, human rights and justice.