A new organisation promoting links between Wales and Bangladesh has been launched in Cardiff.

The Cymru-Bangla Network - which has been founded by Shaz Haris, restaurateur and founder of the Cardiff Mela - will also work to raise funds for orphanages and disaster relief in Bangladesh.
 
Its launch, which took place at Haveli in City Road Cardiff and attended by Cardiff poet Peter Finch and MP Jenny Willott and Jenny Randerson AM, coincided with celebrations of the UN-backed International Mother Language of Bangladesh day.

Shaz Haris said: "Cardiff is home to one of the largest Bangladesh communities in the UK and and this is an important day in our culture as it celebrates the right of our people to speak and express themselves through the language of Bengali.

More than this, the event will celebrate the many parallels between Wales and Bangladesh, sharing as we do a love of song, poetry and the rural landscape. We are thrilled that Peter Finch will be joining us as we celebrate Language Day, including readings from works of the great poets of Bangladesh."

One of the first actions of the Cymru-Bangla Network will be a visit to Bangladesh to help fund orphanages in the town of Moulvibazar.    

Shaz Haris, who was born and raised in Roath, Cardiff added:
 
"We hope this event will build on the success of the Mela and Mini Mela we started in Cardiff, and help generate exciting cultural co-operation between the people of Wales and Bangladesh.  It may be one of the poorest countries in the World and prone to massive flooding problems but our people have enormous spirit and love of life and we want to help them in any way we can through the Cymru-Bangla Network."