Bangladeshi Confucius Institute under North-South University held a marvelous evening party in Dhaka Sunday celebrating Chinese traditional Lantern Festival.

While making remarks at the opening of the party, Doctor Khaliquzzaman Elias, director of Confucius Institute, said the Confucius Institute has created an opportunity for Bangladeshi people to learn Chinese, building the bridge for Bangladeshi people to know more about China.

Liu Sanzhen, cultural councilor of Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, encouraged the students to study Chinese hard, in order to get the scholarship to study in China.

The first batch of eight students were awarded certificates after one year's study. Ali, the representative of the graduates, said at the function he felt very grateful to the Chinese teachers in the Confucius Institute.

"Without their help, we could not learn Chinese well," he said.

During the party, the students performed Chinese songs, drama, recited Chinese ancient poem. Some students talked about their experience in learning Chinese.

North-South University Confucius Institute is the first Confucius Institute in South Asia. It was inaugurated on February 14, 2006. 　

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2007)