Maldivian cuisine took centre stage in Bangladesh this week as renowned chef Maha Naseer prepared traditional dishes before a crowd of diplomats, government officials and business leaders at a gala promoting the Maldives’ fisheries and tourism industries.
Chef Maha travelled to Dhaka for “The Great Tuna Gala – Flavors from the Sunny Side,” where she conducted a live cooking demonstration highlighting Maldivian flavours and the country’s close relationship with tuna and the ocean.
Held at Sheraton Dhaka on Tuesday, the event was organised by the Maldivian High Commission in Bangladesh and attracted around 250 guests.
The gathering brought together senior government officials, members of the diplomatic community, business leaders, representatives from the tourism and fisheries industries and journalists.
Bangladesh’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat attended as chief guest.
While Maldivian food provided one of the main attractions of the evening, the gala was also designed as a platform to open new opportunities for Maldivian fisheries products in Bangladesh and strengthen tourism and commercial ties between the two countries.
Maldives High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shiuneen Rasheed told guests that the ocean remains deeply intertwined with Maldivian life, shaping the country’s economy, communities, traditions and cuisine.
She highlighted the Maldives’ centuries-old pole-and-line method of tuna fishing, a practice closely associated with the country’s fisheries industry and its approach to sustainable harvesting of marine resources.
Tuna has long been at the heart of the Maldivian diet and remains one of the country’s most recognisable fisheries exports.
At the gala, guests were introduced to a range of Maldivian fisheries products, while Chef Maha demonstrated how tuna and other seafood are transformed into dishes rooted in Maldivian culinary traditions.
Her live demonstration also provided guests with a closer look at the connection between food, fishing and everyday island life in the Maldives.
The High Commissioner said Bangladesh presents opportunities for Maldivian tuna and other fisheries products, particularly as connectivity and commercial engagement between the two countries continue to grow.
Improved links could also support greater movement of tourists, businesses and goods between the Maldives and Bangladesh, she said.
Millat similarly highlighted opportunities for the two countries to deepen cooperation in tourism and fisheries.
He pointed to sustainable fisheries, tourism development and joint destination promotion as areas where closer collaboration could be pursued, alongside new avenues for broader bilateral engagement.
Tourism was another major focus of the evening.
Beyond its seafood and cuisine, the Maldives was presented to guests as a travel destination through its natural environment, island experiences, hospitality and cultural heritage.
The gala forms part of efforts to use the Maldives’ distinctive fisheries heritage and cuisine to strengthen the country’s profile in the Bangladeshi market.
According to the Maldivian High Commission, the event was intended to increase awareness of Maldivian fisheries products, explore potential market access, encourage business-to-business partnerships and position the Maldives as a preferred destination for Bangladeshi travellers.
