The vibrant “Taste of Bangladesh” food festival is currently underway at the Kamal Ataturk Park in Banani, Dhaka. The festival, which began on December 13, will continue until December 16. Organized by the Bangladesh Tourism Board under the guidance of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, this event brings together the traditional and diverse flavors of Bangladesh under one platform.
The four-day festival was inaugurated on Friday evening (December 13, 2024) by A.F. Hasan Arif, Adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. During his speech at the opening ceremony, he remarked, “Our local culinary traditions hold significant history, depth, and stories. I deeply appreciate our culinary heritage and believe it will thrive in the future.”
This year’s event features 62 stalls offering a wide variety of regional delicacies, including Dhaka’s famous kacchi biryani, Lalbagh’s bobar biryani, Comilla’s roshmalai, Khulna’s chuijhal, Rajshahi’s kalai roti, Bogura’s doi, the bamboo chicken of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Barisal’s traditional pitha, Chattogram’s mezban, and Cox’s Bazar’s seafood, among many others.
The festival isn’t just about food—visitors are also enjoying cultural performances from different regions of Bangladesh. Highlights include gambhira, baul songs, puthi recitation, qawwali, puppet shows, hill tracts dances, and other traditional art forms. These performances add a rich cultural flavor to the festival.
Modern attractions such as the “Gen-Z Hangout Corner” and live cooking competitions have added to the excitement. Additionally, a raffle draw offers attendees the chance to win exciting prizes.
Renowned five-star hotels, including InterContinental Dhaka, Pan Pacific Sonargaon, and Sheraton Dhaka, have their stalls at the festival, showcasing Bangladeshi cuisine with unique twists. Alongside them, SME entrepreneurs and local tourism corporations are also displaying their culinary delights and products.
The event is chaired by Fatema Rahim Vina, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. Other prominent speakers include Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, DNCC Administrator Mahmudul Hasan, and CEO of the Tourism Board Abu Taher Muhammad Jaber.
The Taste of Bangladesh Food Festival is supported by organizations such as Dhaka North City Corporation, WASA, DESCO, Fire Service, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Gulshan Zone), Tourist Police, SME Foundation, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, and Banani Society. Event execution and planning have been facilitated by Spellbound Communication Limited, with Polar Ice Cream as the Ice Cream Partner, Runner Automobiles and RR Cables as Corporate Partners, BYD as the EV Partner, Pan Pacific Sonargaon and InterContinental Dhaka as Hospitality Partners, and Cultural Classicist as the Cultural Partner.
This four-day event is a significant initiative aimed at preserving Bangladesh’s food culture and showcasing it on a global platform. If you haven’t visited yet, don’t miss this grand celebration of traditional Bangladeshi cuisine and culture. The festival is open to all from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily and will conclude on December 16.
