The annual ‘Fête de la Francophonie’ kicked off at the Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) on Thursday, featuring a lively programme of cultural events celebrating the French language and the diverse cultures of Francophone countries.
Running from March 6 to 9, excluding Sunday, at the Dhanmondi cultural centre, the festival offers films, theatre, music, exhibitions and community activities open to the public.
The opening day began with a Campus France Bangladesh session in the Auditorium Nouvelle Vague, where students explored higher education opportunities in France and the application process. A Francophonie quiz followed, allowing participants to test their knowledge of Francophone languages and culture in a spirited contest.
In the afternoon, attendees enjoyed a pétanque tournament in the courtyard, the traditional French game in which players throw metal balls towards a small target. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students and members of the Francophone community.
The day continued with a Francophonie concert at Café la Véranda, featuring Bangladeshi musicians Mizanuddin Khan and Rahin Haider alongside guest performers. The evening concluded with a community iftar, fostering an atmosphere of cultural exchange and friendship among participants.
Speaking to The TIMES of Bangladesh, AFD Director François Chambraud said that the festival is part of a global celebration of the French language and its cultural diversity.
François said, “Every year in March, French-speaking countries unite to celebrate their shared language and diverse cultures. Here in Dhaka, we dedicate the whole weekend to this celebration with our Francophone partners, organising activities in our classrooms for French language learning and art, as well as cinema, music and theatre.”
“There is a cinema programme featuring films from France, Canada, Switzerland and Kosovo, a concert with our teachers and friends and a theatre production of a Jean Cocteau play adapted into Bangla,” he added.
A community exhibition of handwritten poetry also opened at Galerie Zoom and will run until March 9. Participants were invited to submit handwritten poems on A4 paper in any language or theme, which organisers curated for display.
The festival continues on March 7 with a Francophonie film screening at the Auditorium Nouvelle Vague. The programme includes ‘La Vérité’ (For Real, 2024) by Malou Lévêque, ‘Bonarrien’ (No Good, 2023) by Adiel Goliot and ‘Le Fil’ (An Ordinary Case, 2024) directed by Daniel Auteuil.
Later in the evening, audiences will see a stage production of ‘The Human Voice’, based on Cocteau’s monodrama. The Bangla adaptation is directed by Prajna Tasnuva Rubayyat, with Marshia Shawon performing the solo role at La Galerie.
The festival will conclude on March 9 with a film showcase featuring ‘Le Procès du chien’ (Dog on Trial) by Laetitia Dosch at 2:00 pm, followed by ‘Destination Francophonie: Destination Kosovo’ (2025) by Ivan Kabacoff at 4:00 pm.
Organisers emphasised that the festival aims to promote linguistic diversity while strengthening cultural ties between Bangladesh and the global Francophone community.
This year’s celebration is organised by AFD in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada and the embassies of France, Switzerland and Kosovo.
