British Council has marked 75 years in Bangladesh with a celebration at its Dhaka premises. The organisation has worked in education, English language learning, arts and culture since it opened its first office in the country in 1951. The event also focused on the next generation of young people engaging with its programmes and partnerships.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the celebration. She met young people involved in initiatives supporting women’s empowerment, green entrepreneurship and international education. She received artwork from a young winner of the British Council’s Young Learner Art Competition, held in connection with the international Xu Bing Space Art Residency Competition 2026–27, said a press release on Wednesday.
The gathering brought together alumni, changemakers, leaders and partners. It highlighted three areas of the British Council’s work: empowering young people, supporting culture and creativity, and building partnerships for international collaboration.
British Council Country Director Stephen Forbes said the organisation has worked with people and institutions across Bangladesh for 75 years to create opportunities through education, English and the arts. He said its focus is on ensuring young people have the skills, confidence and international connections to shape their own futures. University of Dhaka Vice-Chancellor A B M Obaidul Islam said the histories of the two institutions have been intertwined for generations and that universities and organisations such as the British Council must continue to work together.
