LONDON: The Chattogram Festival 2026 will be held in London on Sunday, November 1, 2026, bringing together members of the Chattogram community for a daylong celebration of the region’s rich history, heritage and culture. The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Mayfair Venue on Romford Road in East London.

A press briefing on the upcoming festival was held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at a restaurant hall in East London. Muhammad Ali Reza read out a written statement on behalf of the festival organizing committee.

Among those present and speaking at the press briefing were Barrister Monowar Hossain, Councillor Syed Firoz Gani, Gias Uddin, Anupam Saha, Monir Mahmud, Sujon Barua, Masudur Rahman, Shawkat Osman, Nabil Rahman, Saiful Islam, Muhammad Kaiser and Alim Ullah Rahat, among others.

In their written statement, the organizers said the Chattogram Festival is more than an annual cultural event. It is a collective effort to preserve and celebrate Chattogram’s history, heritage, culture, achievements, business and trade traditions, as well as the identity and cultural consciousness of Chattogram people living abroad.

The organizers said the festival also aims to showcase Chattogram’s rich cultural heritage to younger generations while strengthening communication, cooperation and community ties among Chattogram residents in the United Kingdom.

They called on all Chattogram-based organizations in the UK, community leaders, media professionals and members of the younger generation to extend their cooperation and actively participate in the festival. The organizers expressed hope that through collective efforts, mutual cooperation and unity, Chattogram Festival 2026 will become a safe, inclusive and memorable event.

The daylong celebration will feature a variety of cultural and traditional activities, including Chattogram’s renowned Mezbaan, a traditional communal feast known for its distinctive beef dishes and cultural significance.

The organizers have invited Chattogram residents and Bangladeshi communities across the UK to attend the festival with their families and enjoy a celebration highlighting the heritage, culture and traditions of Chattogram.

VIRGINIA: The Bangladesh-American IT People’s Organization (BAITPO) hosted an appreciation party in Woodbridge, Virginia, to recognize the volunteers, sponsors, supporters and committee members behind its successful effort to showcase the traditional Chattogram Mezbaan tradition among Bangladeshi Americans in the United States. The event was attended by BAITPO leaders and members, members of the Mezbaan committee, sponsors and well-wishers. Engineer Abubakar Hanif, Chancellor of Washington University, attended the program as the chief guest.

In his remarks, Hanif thanked the BAITPO team for successfully organizing the Mezbaan event and assured the organization of his continued support for arranging larger and more successful programs in the future. Dr. Faizul Islam said one of the largest Mezbaan gatherings in recent memory was held in the DMV area on August 23. Legendary Bangladeshi singer Nakib Khan performed at the event.

He highlighted various aspects and achievements of the Mezbaan program, noting that organizing a large-scale event often involves numerous challenges and limitations. He said recognizing the efforts and contributions of those who overcome such challenges can encourage organizers to deliver even better events in the future. BAITPO President Shamsuddin Mahmud expressed sincere gratitude to all donors, sponsors, well-wishers, Mezbaan committee members, BAITPO leaders and members, and guests who contributed to the success of the event.

Mahmud acknowledged that the large turnout, which exceeded expectations, along with the attendance of a significant number of guests who had not registered in advance, created some challenges in food management. He expressed regret that some guests were unable to receive food after the scheduled serving period had ended.

He also outlined several plans to make the next Mezbaan more organized and efficient. According to Mahmud, registration will be mandatory for future events. Those who registered for this year’s Mezbaan will also receive an opportunity for free registration for next year’s event.

To speed up and streamline food distribution, BAITPO plans to introduce four separate serving lines and increase its food transportation capacity threefold. Subject to venue availability, Mahmud also announced plans to organize Mezbaan 2027 next August. During the appreciation event, the BAITPO president also presented the income and expenditure details of the Mezbaan program before the attendees.

Calling on everyone to participate in the next Mezbaan, Mahmud said preparations would be made in advance to ensure that no guest has to leave without receiving food. BAITPO Vice President Saifullah Khaled, Event Coordinator Sam Ria and other members of the organization also spoke at the event.

The appreciation party also featured traditional Chattogram-style Mezbaani cuisine, along with discussions and memories from the successful event. Hasan and Sam Ria were responsible for preparing beef and other dishes in the traditional Mezbaan style, while Mohammad Qureshi oversaw the barbecue preparation. The gathering concluded with food, conversation and reminiscences among BAITPO members, sponsors, supporters and others involved in organizing the Mezbaan event.