Kathmandu, November 30
Going beyond traditional diplomatic practices, the Embassy of Bangladesh in Kathmandu has introduced a different approach to strengthening bilateral ties through “fish diplomacy.”
Through the “Bangladesh Fish Festival 2025,” organized on Friday afternoon within the embassy premises, the embassy showcased fish not only as food but also as a powerful medium connecting cultural and economic relations between the two countries.
The festival did more than present fish as a mere dish, it aimed to establish it as a new link for trade, culture, and friendship between Nepal and Bangladesh.
Ambassadors and mission chiefs from various countries based in Kathmandu, diplomats, senior officials from different ministries of the Government of Nepal, business leaders, intellectuals, civil society representatives, hotel managers, and others attended the event. Nepal’s Acting Foreign Secretary, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, was the chief guest.
Welcoming the attendees, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Nepal, Mohammad Shafiqur Rahman, described the Nepal–Bangladesh relationship as a “fish–dal–rice” connection.
He also emphasized that fish dishes serve as a bridge connecting geographically and culturally distant Bangladesh, with its thousands of rivers, and Nepal, the land of the Himalayas. He portrayed fish as an inseparable part of Bangladesh’s river culture, livelihood, and national identity.
At the event, guests were served traditional and modern dishes made from various species of fish found in Bangladesh, offering them a taste of authentic Bangladeshi culture.
Another key objective of this “fish diplomacy” is to explore markets in Nepal for Bangladeshi fish and seafood products. With the rising demand for high-quality seafood in Nepal, the festival was organized to utilize this opportunity.
