Thousands of expatriate Bangladeshis from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji were gathered at Paul Keating Park of Bankstown in Sydney on the fine afternoon of Saturday, to exhibit the culture and custom of their country before the world.

The Sydney park was turned into a piece of Bangladesh as the Bangladeshis reminisced the memories of their childhood, adolescence, and youth which they spent back in their beloved country.

The event, Bangladesh Festival, which was arranged for the first time in Australia, took the Bangladeshi expatriates for a trip down their memory lanes of good old days.

Australian ministers, lawmakers, mayors and local eminent personalities illuminated the venue by attending the festival. Australian local and Bangladeshi musicians added more life to the event. NTV Chairman and Managing Director Alhaj Mohammad Mosaddak Ali, who was the chief guest of the programme, could not attend the festival as he was physical unwell. However, wishing the event a great success, the chief guest sent a welcome speech.

The organisers believed they had achieved 100 per cent of their expectations from the programme. After the programme in a thrilled voice, NTV Australia’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rashed Sraban said the festival became a great triumph with our joint effort and love and appreciation of NTV’s audiences. It has been proved; once again, that NTV is not only popular among the Bangladeshi expatriates in Australia, but also widespread among the Bengali people across the world.

The CEO said, ‘If we get inspiration from our viewers, we will arrange this festival every year.’

The cultural program commenced with the tale of NTV family. A documentary showed the 15-year long journey of NTV and how the television channel won the heart of its audience by telecasting objective news and entertaining programme.

After displaying the documentary, a child, Tasfir, recited from the Holy Quran. Later, Bangladesh Festival’s event co-ordinator Jahangir Habib, NTV Australia’s Public Relation Officer Saimon Sarwar, Amra Bangladeshi’s Organiser and teacher of Charles Start University Shibli Abdullah, Head of NTV Online Fakaruddin Jewel delivered their opening speeches.

The programme was anchored by NTV’s special correspondent Arifur Rahman and local singer Toma.

Moreover, recorded speeches of Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Minister of Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor, and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were also presented during the event.

The New South Wales lawmaker and assistant communication Minister Mark Joseph COURE addressed the guests. Mark Joseph praised the traditional culture of Bangladesh.

Following the speech session, local artist Rumen Kumar sang a song and a group of child dancers performed dance on a Bangla song. After that, Sumaiya and Nabila came with their solo musical performance. The anchor, Toma, also sang song with her sugary voice. Bangladeshi and Australian models walked on the ramp, which was following by Australia’s popular dancer Arpita Som’s dance performance on Bangla music.

NTV Australia’s CEO Rashed Srabon read out the speech of NTV Chairman and Managing Director Alhaj Mohammad Mosaddak Ali to the audience.

Australian opposition party leader’s representative Tonny Barke, also a lawmaker, MP Glen Brox, deputy mayor of Bankstown, councillor Shahe Zaman Titu, former deputy mayor of Canterbury Carl Salhe and other eminent personalities went to the stage and welcomed the Bangladeshi expatriates from three countries.

Admiring the festival, they said there is no doubt that it is a huge event. The programme showed that how enriched Bangladesh’s culture is.

At the end of the programme, local band Sporsho rocked the stage with its melodious performance, while Bangladeshi singers Sayed, and Close-Up star Ronty Das added more zing the cultural show.

The audiences from all ages made the cultural program livelier by singing and dancing and appreciating the performers.

Besides the cultural programme, a fair of small colourful stalls of chotpoti, phuchka, Bangladeshi sari, dress and jewelleries was arranged.  The guests did not miss the chance of buying local goods on the soil of Australia. The expatriates waited in a long queue outside the stall of chot poti and phuchka, which spiced up their nostalgic journey towards their beloved country even more.