Alliance Française de Dhaka

Alliance Française de Dhaka

আলিয়ঁস ফ্রঁসেজ দ্য ঢাকা
Official logo
Headquarter in Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Formation	1959
Type	Cultural Institution, Language Learning Center
Legal status	Active
Headquarters	Dhanmondi
Location	26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi Dhaka, Bangladesh
Region	Dhaka
Services	French cultural and language education
Official language	French
Owner	Culture of France
President	Abdul Majid Chowdhury[1]
Vice-President	Nadia Samdani
Secretary	Imroz Hassan Chowdhury
Key people	François Grosjean (Director)[2]
Website	afdhaka.org

Alliance Française de Dhaka (French pronunciation: [aljɑ̃s fʁɑ̃sɛːz də daka]; Bengali: আলিয়ঁস ফ্রঁসেজ দ্য ঢাকা) or AFD is a nonprofit organization which has been working in Bangladesh since 1959.^[3] It is located at Dhanmondi, Dhaka.^[4][5] Sometimes referred as the French Cultural Center, Alliance Française de Dhaka works independently in close liaison with the High Commission of France in Bangladesh.^[6][3]

Location

Alliance Française de Dhaka is located at 26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka. As of 2012, two branches have been established at Gulshan and Uttara.^[3][7][8]

Gulshan Branch

Uttara Branch

Band Lalon is performing at Alliance Française de Dhaka

Function

Alliance Française de Dhaka promotes French culture, especially the French language to the local people of Bangladesh and at the same time, promotes the local Bangladeshi culture in France.^[9] The centre functions as a hub for various cultural activities, featuring regular exhibitions of art, music, films, as well as a cafe and a library on its premises.^[3]

Courses

Courses in French as a foreign language conform to the CEFR and Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues (CECR).^[10]

Alliance Française de Dhaka organizes four sessions of courses each spanning for three months per year. There are three age groups: children (9-12), teenagers (13-15) and adults (16+). International exams like DELF, DALF, Test de connaissance du français (TCF), Test d'évaluation du français (TEF), and Diplôme d'Aptitude à l'Enseignement du Français Langue Étrangère (DAEFLE) are offered for all eligible students.^[10] Alliance Française de Dhaka has been preparing private, corporate, tailor-made, and external courses for corporations and institutions like Bangladesh military and police personnel as well as tailor-made courses for diplomats and high ranking functionaries.^[11][12]

The centre provides a range of artistic courses, including piano, violin, photography, guitar, interior and fashion designing, dance, as well as catering to exotic interests like rooftop gardening, French cooking classes.^{[13][14][3][15]}

See also

• Alliance française

References

1. "Executive Committee & Constitution". Alliance Française de Dhaka. Archived from the original on 2023-08-13.
2. "3-member French delegation calls on RU VC". Bangladesh Post. Dhaka.
3. "France in Bangladesh". Embassy of France in Dhaka. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
4. "50th anniversary of Alliance Francaise". The Daily Star. 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
5. "50th anniversary celebrations of Alliance Française end tomorrow". The Financial Express. Dhaka. 4 February 2010. p. 3. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
6. "Alliance Française de Dhaka". Alliance Française de Dhaka. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
7. Hossain, Shakhawat (22 June 2008). "New branch of Alliance Française opens at Uttara". Star Campus. The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022.
8. "Alliance Française opens new branch". New Age. Dhaka. 2012-01-24. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
9. "Alliance Française de Dhaka unveils new website following global campaign". Dhaka Tribune. 7 December 2023.
10. "French Tests". Alliance Française de Dhaka. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
11. "Alliance Française wraps up: 50th anniversary programs". Dhaka Courier. 2010-02-11. AFD now trains officers from the Navy, police headquarters and airforce, as well as diplomats and high ranking civil servants, said Monsieur Causeret
12. AFD Brochure (PDF). Alliance Francaise de Dhaka. 2023.
13. "Workshop on apparel fashion begins at Uttara". The Daily Star. 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
14. "The French Connection". The Daily Star. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
15. "Curious students". Alliance Française de Dhaka. Retrieved 8 March 2024.