Legendary Bangladeshi rock icon James delivered a spectacular performance in France, leaving thousands of expatriate Bangladeshis spellbound with an unforgettable night of music at the Franco Bangla Summer Fest 2026.
Organised jointly by Shah Group and Offiora, the festival was held at Sarcelles, on the outskirts of Paris, and drew thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates from across France and several other European countries.
Organisers described it as one of the largest Bangladeshi cultural festivals ever held in Europe.
The day-long event began at noon, but the excitement reached its peak when James took to the stage at around 9:30pm local time.
Dressed in his trademark red gamcha, a brown T-shirt and black jeans, the rock star was welcomed by thunderous cheers and chants of “Love you, Guru” from the crowd.
James opened his set with the timeless classic “Kobita, Tumi Shopnocharini Hoye Khobor Niyo Na”, before performing a string of fan favourites, including “O Bijli Chole Jeyo Na,” “Sultana Bibiyana,” “Guru Ghor Banaila Ki Diya,” “Ma,” “Baba,” “Dushtu Cheler Dol,” “Diwana Mastana,” “Ashbar Kale Ashlam Eka,” “Pagla Hawa,” and “Bhigi Bhigi.”
The concert continued until nearly 11pm, with fans singing and dancing throughout the performance.
At the end of the show, James thanked the audience for their love and support and requested their prayers.
The festival attracted visitors not only from Paris but also from cities across France and neighbouring European countries.
“I’ve never seen an event of this scale in France,” said Abir, who travelled from Lyon to attend the concert.
“And when James is performing, the excitement is always on another level. That’s why I came all this way.”
Chayan Roy, a cultural organiser from Belgium, said, “James is known for setting the stage on fire. We came here to experience a piece of Bangladesh while living abroad.”
According to the organisers, attendance exceeded 4,000 by the evening.
Beyond the music, the festival celebrated Bangladeshi culture with traditional food stalls offering singara, samosas, fuchka, biryani, jhalmuri, pitha, fresh coconut water and tea.
Families, children, young people and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora gathered throughout the day, turning the venue into a vibrant celebration of community and culture.
The event also featured entertainment competitions for women and children, along with a raffle draw.
Rezwana Chowdhury Mim won the grand prize—a BMW car.
In addition to James, audiences enjoyed performances by Rahul Ananda, frontman of the folk-fusion band Joler Gaan, singer Binti from the Netherlands, local artiste Imtiaz Rony, and several other performers.
The programme was hosted by Kaushik Rabbani, director of Ofiora.
Among those who addressed the audience were Sattar Ali Sumon, chairman of Shah Group, Fatema Khatun, CEO of Shah Group and publisher of Amader Kotha, French Member of Parliament Carlos Martens Bilongo, and Nabil Chabane, Deputy Mayor of Sarcelles.
Speaking about the festival, Sattar Ali Sumon (Shah Alam) and Kaushik Rabbani Khan said the event was organised to strengthen cultural ties, preserve Bangladeshi heritage and foster unity among expatriate Bangladeshis and the younger generation growing up in Europe.
Paris-based columnist and researcher Ahmed Sohel described the festival as “a breath of fresh air for Bangladeshi culture abroad,” saying it provided comfort and a sense of belonging for expatriate Bangladeshis, many of whom contribute to the country’s economy through remittances.
He also thanked the organisers for staging such a memorable event.
