Thousands of people of Zuenoula city, about 11,000 kilometres away from Bangladesh, came to know about Bangladesh and its culture and heritage by visiting the centre. Not only Ivorians, tourists who come to Zuenoula city from other countries also visit the centre.

Diby-Desire, director of the centre, told The Daily Star on Sunday, "This is the only tourist spot in Zuenoula."

Diby-Desire also said, "The centre is now also in the tourist book of Zuenoula."

Although there is no diplomatic relationship between Bangladesh and Ivory Coast, the Ivorians are nonetheless already familiar with Bangladesh and consider it a friendly country, due to the participation of Bangladesh Army in the United Nations (UN) Peace Keeping Mission.

The Bangladesh Army's cooperation with the local people including providing medical services besides their specified peace keeping duties made the Ivorians befriend Bangladesh and its people so quickly.

The Ivorians wrote on a wall of the Bangladesh Centre Bhavan, "Dedicated to the Ivorian-Bangladesh Friendship". Flags of both the countries are painted over the entry gate of the centre.

The Bangladesh Centre was established in May 2005, where apart from Diby three other Ivorian citizens are also working as staff.

The initiative to establish the centre was taken by the first battalion of Bangladesh peace keeping contingent BANBAT-1 of the UN Peace Keeping Mission ONUCI, before the contingent returned home the same year. The effort was sparked by a desire to leave their memory in a lasting way there for the Ivorians.

Diby said, "Commander of the First Battalion of Bangladesh Col Iqbal initiated the idea of setting up the centre."

Later, Zuenoula City Mayor Zan BI Goi allotted an abandoned one-storey house on half a hectare of land in his own city for establishing the centre.

Members of the Bangladesh contingent set up a park in an open space next to the centre containing a playground with many sports equipment for local children.

The Bangladesh Centre of Zuenoula is open for visitors from Monday to Saturday every week from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Many cultural programmes and exhibitions of Nakshi Kantha (embroidered quilt), handicrafts, saris and paintings on different Bangladeshi subjects are also held there.

Diby said about 50 visitors come to the centre every week. The visitors are mainly residents of Zuenoula city and its adjacent areas although foreign tourists also visit the centre, he added.

The Bangladesh Centre authorities sometimes even extend the visiting hours for special visitors if they inform the authorities earlier, said the centre director.

He also said Zuenoula city mayor provides 50 thousand CFA Franc (Ivorian currency), equivalent to $100, every month to the Bangladesh Centre to meet its monthly expenses from his budget.

The mayor intends to turn the centre into a big institution with more attractions, Diby added.

The members of the Bangladesh battalion have to return home after ending their mission in Ivory Coast but the Bangladesh Centre of Zuenoula will remain, he said.

"It is now the only Bangladesh Centre in Ivory Coast and it will be here forever", Diby said.

Outgoing Commanding Officer of the Bangladesh Battalion-1 (BANBAT-1) in Zuenoula Lt Col Mohammad Maksudur Rahman told The Daily Star on Sunday on the premises of his battalion office, "The Ivorians will keep the Bangladesh Centre with them even after the UN Peace Keeping Mission ends."

The local authorities already talked to the battalion regarding the plan, he said adding that they will keep communications with the local authorities through different ways including e-mails and they will cooperate with the local authorities whenever needed. The Ivorians will also go to Bangladesh, he added.

He also said if an embassy of Bangladesh could be set up in Ivory Coast in future it would be easier to maintain the centre there.

Lt Col Maksud will soon return to Bangladesh finishing his duties in Ivory Coast, and Lt Col Mesbah Ul Alam Chowdhury already reached here to take up the charge as a new commanding officer.

BANBAT-1 has also arranged computer training and English language learning courses in the Bangladesh Centre for the local people.

Lt Col Maksud said hundreds of people visit the centre. Every Wednesday a cultural programme is performed by children, which the Zuenoula Radio broadcasts.

He also said the Bangladesh Centre was established to provide an opportunity for the Ivorians to learn about Bangladesh's culture and heritage -- an effort that seems to be reaping much success.