To mark France’s National Day, Vromon Travel Magazine, in collaboration with Alliance Française de Dhaka, hosted a special roundtable discussion titled “France-Bangladesh Relations: Language, Culture, and Tourism”. The event took place on the morning of 30 July at Café La Véranda, Alliance Française de Dhaka, Dhanmondi.
The session commenced with a welcome speech by Mr François Grosjean, Director of Alliance Française de Dhaka. In his remarks, he emphasized that for over 65 years, Alliance Française has not only connected the people of Bangladesh with the French language and culture but has also played a vital role in presenting Bangladeshi art, literature, and heritage on global platforms, particularly in France. He further stated that despite prevailing negative international narratives surrounding Bangladesh—often focused on poverty, climate issues, or disasters—the country, in reality, is rich in history, heritage, and creativity, producing world-class writers, musicians, and artists. Unfortunately, he noted, local authorities often fail to adequately promote this cultural wealth on international stages.
The discussion highlighted that in 2024, France once again retained its position as the world’s top tourist destination. The country welcomed over 100 million international tourists, breaking previous records and earning more than €71 billion (USD 83 billion) from the tourism sector—an increase of 12% from the previous year.
Speakers observed that France, with its rich natural beauty, cultural diversity, culinary heritage, and welcoming people, continues to be a global favorite. As language and culture are deeply intertwined with tourism, Alliance Française de Dhaka is making meaningful contributions in this sector by promoting the French language and culture in Bangladesh through various multidimensional initiatives.
The event was attended by Mr. Md. Mainul Hasan, Additional IGP and Chief of Bangladesh Tourist Police; Mr. Md. Abdus Samad, Chairman of Global Sustainable Tourism Network and Former Senior Secretary; Ms. Naila Ahmed, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism; and Mr. Ferdaus Aman Didar, CEO of PPC Bangladesh, among others.
The roundtable was moderated by Abu Sufian, Editor of Vromon Magazine and author of the book In the Streets of Paris. A special digital France edition of Vromon was also launched on the occasion.
