The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shakhawat Hossain

Alliance Française (AF) de Dacca, which is one of the link of a vast network of 1071 AFs across the world and not only welcomes 450.000 students every year for learning the French language, but also invites 6 million people for participating in various cultural activities round the year, opened another branch at Uttara on Thursday.

This will be the third branch of AF in Dhaka after the opening of the second branch at Baridhara in 2006. Opening of the two branches of AF within the period of two-year clearly demonstrates another example of the existing deep-rooted cultural co-operation between France and Bangladesh.

Ambassador of France Mr. Charley Causeret formally inaugurated the Uttara Branch of AF. It is noted that AF has been functioning in Bangladesh since 1959, and is going to celebrate its golden jubilee next year.

Inaugurating the new branch of AF French Ambassador Charley Causeret said:

the opening of the second annex shows that there exists a close co-operation in the field of culture between Bangladesh and France and the very positive sign on the eve of the golden jubilee of the Alliance Française of Dhaka, which we shall celebrate next year.

French Ambassador said that Alliance Française of Dhaka de Dacca was opened in 1959 in Dhanmondi at the time when the capital city Dhaka was not yet a megalopolis. With the passing years, Dhaka didn't stop and becoming more and more busy. Many people who were interested in the activities offered by the Alliance by the Mirpur Road were discouraged by traffic jams from attending the courses. So, the members of the Executive Board came to the wise conclusion that if students couldn't go anymore to the Alliance Française should go to them.

And that's why, in 2006, a first annex of AF was opened in Baridhara at the request of the people living nearby. For the same reason s, this year, it was decided to open another new annex in Uttara which is far from both Dhanmondi and Baridhara, further added the French Ambassador.

He also hoped that with the opening of this new annex, the opportunity will be given to many more persons to have access to the French language and French Culture as those were the objectives of the Alliance Française founded in 1983 in Paris by renowned humanists such as Louis Pasteur This new branch includes 6 classrooms of which two are already in service.

25 students started the course at the beginning of April and the number of learners is expected to double from the next session which will start in July. This branch will also propose cultural activities.

Workshops of Guitar and Art of Interior Design are also being offered right now.

A Cafeteria where to chatter within a pleasant atmosphere, or to study, as well as a small library dedicated to the French culture will be in action in the future.

The main purpose of setting up a new branch of AF in this area is to help all the young people to get access to a new culture, to build their future, to cultivate their mind and also to spend a pleasant moment with friends within boundaries of Alliance which is conveniently located at the plot no-15, Isha Kha Avenue, Sector-6, Uttara.

It is further noted that Alliances are French only in France because, here like everywhere in the world, they are the local associations directed by a local board of directors. It is thus at first a 100% Bangladeshi establishment for serving Bangladeshis.