Thai Festival begins

A group of Thai artists perform a dance number at the Thailand Festival 2006 that began at Sonargaon Hotel in the city yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The Thai Embassy and the Thai Airways International Public Company in Dhaka jointly organised the festival featuring traditional Thai foods.

The food items include crispy rice, grilled beef salad, minced chicken, spicy minced seafood salad, roasted lamb with tamarind sauce, vegetables, salty eggs, soup, sweet sticky rice with mango, pumpkin custard and exotic fresh fruits.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the festival as the chief guest.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Thai Ambassador Suphat Chitranukroh said the main objective of the festival is to promote people-to-people contact and strengthen cultural relations between Thailand and Bangladesh.

"Thailand has a rich heritage of culture and tradition, one aspect of which is reflected in Thai foods."

The Thai ambassador also said that Thai fruits would be available at different supermarkets in the city following the festival.

Grant J Gaskin, general manager of Sonargaon Hotel, and Harunur Rashid Bhuiyan, managing director of Hotels International Limited, also spoke.

A cultural programme was also held where artists from Chiang Mai performed.