The Bangladesh Heritage Weekend and Trade Fair 2025 commenced on Saturday at the Tower Hamlets Council Town Hall in the United Kingdom, representing a distinctive initiative dedicated to promoting culture, heritage, and economic collaboration with the expatriate community at its core.

The program was jointly inaugurated on Saturday by the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Abida Islam, and the Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, according to a Facebook post from the Bangladesh High Commission.

The event was attended by senior officials from the Bangladesh High Commission in London, in addition to business leaders and representatives of community organizations.

Organized under the overarching supervision of the Bangladesh High Commission in London, with the support of Tower Hamlets Council, the Heritage Weekend and Trade Fair seeks to foster connections between Bangladesh’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), business professionals, and residents in the United Kingdom, especially within Tower Hamlets.

The event also aims to enhance the younger generation of the diaspora's understanding of Bangladeshi history and culture.

The Bangladesh Heritage Weekend and Trade Fair 2025 will feature a trade fair, an art exhibition entitled “Dhaka to Brick Lane,” a photography exhibition titled “Bangladesh in My Eyes,” a literary symposium, and a street food festival.

The fair showcases booths operated by thirteen entrepreneurs from Bangladesh and fifteen local women entrepreneurs, in addition to various representative organizations.

During the inauguration, High Commissioner Abida Islam stated that Bangladesh's robust economy is exemplified by its thriving SME sector, further emphasizing that the trade fair offers an opportunity to forge direct business connections beyond diplomatic interactions.

She said the event showcases Bangladesh’s heritage and culture as well as its economic potential, describing expatriates as the country’s greatest asset and best ambassadors.

Tower Hamlets Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman stated that the Bangladeshi community in Tower Hamlets continues to flourish and recognized their substantial contributions.

Highlights of the opening day featured a quiz competition for British Bangladeshi children and teenagers from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, with certificates presented to all participants.

Later, practical workshops on Bengali calligraphy and rickshaw art demonstrations were conducted, accompanied by a panel discussion.

Source: Bangladesh High Commission-London; janomot.com