The Embassy of Bangladesh, Uzbekistan celebrated the Bangladesh Youth Festival 2025 in Tashkent on 13-16 January 2025 with color, vibrancy and enthusiasm.
This was in line with the vision of the government of Bangladesh to engage the indomitable spirit, courage and energy of the youth in the nation building efforts and activities. Under the theme of “Let’s change the country, let’s change the world” the government has decided to celebrate the ‘the Festival of Youth-To Create a New Bangladesh’ in a festive and colorful manner between 30 December 2024-8 February 2025. The programmes, in this context, in the country and abroad are being organized in conjunction with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket Tournament, which has kicked off on 30 December 2024 and is expected to end on 7 February 2025.
The week-long celebration in Tashkent was inaugurated on 13 January 2025 through a Friendship Cricket Tournament, jointly organized by the Embassy and the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan. The event was attended by prominent figures from the Uzbekistan sports and academic circles, including the Rector of the Tashkent Economy University, Chairman of the Cricket Federation and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. Explaining the background, objectives and goals of the celebration of the Youth Fest 2025, Bangladesh Ambassador to Uzbekistan, expressed the hope that such an event would further strengthen the friendly relations and connectivity between the people of the two countries, especially among the young generation. He also termed it a ‘remarkable moment’ as it was the first time a cricket tournament was organized in Tashkent, co-hosted by the Embassy and Uzbekistan Cricket Federation.
On the same day afternoon (13 January), an interactive dialogue titled “Bangladesh-Uzbekistan Relations: Prospects, Challenges and Ways Forward” was held at the Embassy, with participation of students from various Universities in Uzbekistan. More than fifty students from renowned universities in Uzbekistan including Uzbekistan State University of Oriental Studies, Central Asian University, Webster University and Mass Communication and Journalism University of Uzbekistan attended the dialogue and presented a catalogue of creative proposals in making the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan more effective, productive and sustainable. Bangladesh Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Dr. Islam briefed the audience about the current status and progress of the two countries’ relations, painting a picture for the prospects of future collaboration.
He also highlighted the context and background of the formation of the interim government led by Honorable Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh and underlined the government’s determination and commitment to creating a ‘New Bangladesh’. He emphasized the importance of holding exchange programs, especially in the fields of science, technology and innovation among the students of Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. The interactive dialogue was followed by a debate competition on the topic of 'Youth is the principal force in developing a nation' organized with the support of the Youth Agency of Uzbekistan. During their arguments and counter-arguments, debaters illustrated the success stories of the youth of different countries, including Bangladesh. Logical, spontaneous and lively presentations of debaters have been deeply appreciated by the audience.
On the occasion of Bangladesh Youth Festival 2025, a Food Festival under the title of “Taste of Culinary Delights of Bangladesh” was hosted by the Embassy on 13 January 2025 at their premises, which was graced by a significant number of high-profile dignitaries, including diplomats from different countries as well as officials from the government and private sectors. Traditional and popular cuisines of Bangladesh, such as biryani, beef kofta, chicken shashlik, singara, piaju, chola bhuna, dalpuri, chomchom, jilapi, jorda were presented and served on the occasion.
In marking the Youth Fest 2025, the Embassy, in partnership with the Economic Assembly of Uzbekistan, organized a business round-table under the theme of ‘Empowering the Youth: Expanding Bangladesh-Uzbekistan Business Relations’. Appreciating the talents, creativity and dynamism of the youth in both Bangladesh and Uzbekistan, Ambassador to Uzbekistan Dr. l Islam underscored the need for greater involvement of young generations in the economic landscape. He specifically mentioned textile, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, jute, chemicals and information technology sectors of cooperation, which hold immense potentials for trade and investment cooperation.
Chairman of the Uzbekistan Economic Assembly, Mokhtar Omarov, also spoke on the occasion. Given the deep historical and cultural ties between the two countries, he expressed optimism that business leaders of the two countries would explore the opportunities more seriously and comprehensively for mutual interests and benefits. On the same day (14th January 2025), Bangladesh Ambassador Dr. Islam addressed a distinguished audience at the Diplomatic Academy of Uzbekistan and shared his perspectives on the Bangladesh-Uzbekistan relations, in the context of evolving regional and global realities.
In partnership with the Art Academy of Uzbekistan, the Embassy organized an art camp titled ‘Bangladesh through the eyes of Uzbekistan’ on 15 January 2025. Young artists of Uzbekistan participated in the art camp. Ambassador Dr. Islam voiced his astonishment to see the skill, ability and imaginative power of the young artists in portraying the nature and beauty of Bangladesh through their paintings. He hoped that both countries would be able to take the growing friendly relations to a new height by appropriately capitalizing on the limitless energy, courage and potential of the young generations.
Inspired by the spirit of the theme of the Youth Fest ‘Let’s change the country, let’s change the world’, he called upon everyone to play a stronger and effective role in building a developed, happy and prosperous society, country and the world. Mr. Akmal Noor, Chairman of the Uzbekistan Art Academy, thanked the Bangladesh Embassy for taking this initiative and displayed his interest in arranging a painting exhibition in Tashkent with Bangladeshi artists at mutually convenient times, On the same day (15 January 2025), a ‘Creative Workshop’ was also organized at the Embassy, where students from Barkamal Avlod School attended and engaged in various creative works like painting, music, dance, pottery and handicrafts etc.
On 16 January 2025, a literary event- poetry recitation and literary quiz competition-was organized at the Embassy, with the support of Uzbekistan Writers’ Union. During the competition, the young writers recited poems, composed by the Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, National poet of Bangladesh Kazi Nazrul Islam and renowned poets of Uzbekistan. They also instantly made translations of some pieces of poetry and responded to the questions, prepared based on the illustrious lives and works of the mentioned poets. At the beginning of this episode, Ambassador Dr. Islam articulated his confidence that language, literary and cultural exchanges and practices would positively contribute towards further deepening and cementing the existing friendship and fraternity shared by the peoples of Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. He emphasized the necessity for launching Bengali language courses in various Universities of Uzbekistan as well as conducting research on Bengali language and literature and vice-versa. He sought the cooperation of all, especially academicians and researchers, to facilitate fostering strong connectivity between the young writers, poets, and literary figures between the two countries.
The Embassy also organized an exchange of opinion titled ‘Development and Prosperity of Bangladesh: Role and Contributions of Expatriates’ on 16 January 2025 at the Embassy. Chaired by Ambassador Dr. Islam, the meeting was attended by a good number of Bangladeshi expatriates living in Uzbekistan. Recognizing the contributions of the expatriates to the economic development and prosperity of Bangladesh, the Ambassador briefed them about various initiatives and steps taken by the current government to ensure safety, security and welfare of expatriates. The attending expatriates shared various experiences about their lives and works in Uzbekistan.
On the same day (16 January 2025) in the evening, a fascinating cultural program was staged with patriotic and popular music and dances of Bangladesh, performed by the Bangladeshi and Uzbekistan artistes, including the famous Uzbek music band ‘Havas Group’. With awarding prizes to the winners of different competitions organized during the festival (13-16 January 2025), the week-long celebration of the Youth Festival of Bangladesh 2025 in Tashkent has come to an end.
