London: Chattogram Festival 2026 will be held on November 1 at Mayfair Hall in Romford, with organisers aiming to showcase Chattogram’s history, heritage, culture and business community in the United Kingdom.

A press briefing and media conference was held on September 22 at Tara Taree Restaurant on New Road in East London ahead of the event. The session was jointly conducted by Sujan Barua, Mohammad Ali Reza and Md Masudur Rahman, with representatives of social, cultural and community organisations as well as journalists in attendance.

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Mohammad Ali Reza outlined the festival’s objectives, plans and longer-term ambitions. Organisers said the event is not intended as the project of any single person or organisation, but as a collective platform for people from Chattogram living in the UK and Europe.

They said one of the festival’s main goals is to strengthen younger generations’ connection with Chattogram’s history and culture. The event is also intended to provide a networking and cooperation platform for businesspeople, entrepreneurs and professionals.

Organisers said they hope to expand the festival in future and incorporate more traditional cultural elements, including Chattogram’s well-known mezban tradition.

Speakers at the press briefing also stressed the importance of bringing Chattogram-based organisations, social and cultural groups and different sections of the community onto a shared platform to encourage cooperation and stronger community ties.

Among those present were Barrister Monowar Hossain, Abul Munsur Shahjahan, Arshad Malek, Shawkat Mahmud Tipu, Councillor Firoz Gani, Engineer Md Alamgir, Solicitor Jagir Alam, Mohammad Kaisar, Monir Mahmud, Sujan Barua, Mohammad Ali Reza and Md Masudur Rahman, along with other community representatives.

Representatives from organisations including Greater Chattogram Association UK, Sandwip Samity UK, Greater Manchester Chattogram Association, Global Chatga Society UK, Cox’s Bazar Association UK, Chattogram Club UK and the British Bangladeshi Forum also attended.

The organisers called on community organisations, businesspeople, cultural figures, media professionals and younger members of the diaspora to participate in and support the festival.