Alliance Française de Dhaka

What Alliance Française de Dhaka does

Alliance Française de Dhaka is a non-profit cultural institution founded in 1959 and headquartered in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, with a secondary branch in Gulshan. Operating as part of the global Alliance Française network under the auspices of the French Embassy, Institut Français, and Fondation Alliance Française, the institution is the sole authorized center in Bangladesh for DELF-DALF, TCF, and TEF standardized French proficiency examinations (granted through France Éducation International). It serves language learners across all age groups (Kids, Children, Teens, Adults), cultural enthusiasts, visual artists, corporate clients requiring translation/interpretation, and partner institutions (schools, universities) seeking external French courses.

The institution's product surface spans language education, standardized testing, professional translation and interpretation (English-French and French-Bengali in both directions across consecutive, simultaneous-whispering, and booth-type modes), library and cultural programming, art exhibitions, venue rentals, and ancillary workshops. Core physical infrastructure includes the Médiathèque Jules Verne (French-language multimedia library), two galleries (La Galerie for established artists hosting 20+ exhibitions annually; Galerie Zoom for emerging artists), the 73-seat Auditorium Nouvelle Vague, and Café La Véranda. Underlying technology is non-AI: a Web Radio platform for broadcasting French-language music and cultural content (used pedagogically and for live event coverage), standard digital infrastructure for enrollment and event registration, and livestreaming via YouTube and SoundCloud. The institution has also co-produced the 'Song of Whales' animation film with the Goopy Bagha Productions team, supported by the METIS Fund (French Development Agency).

The business model is a diversified non-profit portfolio of recurring and transactional revenue streams, none of which are individually disclosed. Recurring streams include French language courses (age-banded tuition), annual membership fees (Student BDT 1,000, Associate/Full BDT 2,500, Corporate BDT 7,500), and library subscriptions. Transactional streams include DELF-DALF/TCF/TEF exam fees, per-hour interpretation at BDT 2,500–6,500, per-document translation, auditorium and gallery rental, workshop fees (Ektara BDT 8,000, Dance BDT 9,000/3 months, Visual Storytelling BDT 2,000–4,000/month), cultural product sales (Folk Melody of Bangladesh book at BDT 3,000–3,500), and café concession fees (currently transitioning to third-party operation via the AFD/Café/2025 tender). Distribution is exclusively direct via the two Dhaka branches (walk-in for courses, membership, and events; email/phone appointment for interpretation and translation), supplemented by website/YouTube/email marketing and event-driven footfall from cultural programming. Institutional partnerships with the French Embassy, Campus France, EUNIC Bangladesh, and other cultural bodies provide cross-promotion and donor-funded programming.

Name

Alliance Française de Dhaka

Legal name

Alliance Française de Dhaka

Website

https://afdhaka.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Alliance Française de Dhaka is a 65-year-old non-profit cultural institution operating two Dhaka branches, part of the global Alliance Française network, offering French language courses, DELF-DALF/TCF/TEF exams, translation/interpretation, library access, and venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education and Cultural Services

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Teacher Training & Language Teaching Certifications (e.g., CELTA/DELTA) (EDAIAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interpretation & Translation Skills Training (Non-degree, Exam-Oriented) (EDANACAK)

Keywords

• French language education
• Cultural programming
• Language proficiency testing
• Translation services
• Art exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. French Language Courses: Core revenue stream from enrollment fees for French language instruction across all age groups (kids, children, teens, adults), with various proficiency levels and formats including private one-to-one and institutional courses.
2. DELF-DALF and French Proficiency Testing: Revenue from administering and proctoring standardized French language proficiency exams (DELF-DALF, TCF, TEF, Placement Tests) and publishing results.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership tiers (Student BDT 1,000, Associate/Full BDT 2,500, Corporate BDT 7,500) providing access to the library, cultural events, and course discounts.
4. Translation Services: Professional translation of official documents and literature (research papers, poetry, screenplays, subtitles, short stories, lyrics, novels, comics) between Bangla/English and French, with per-document pricing.
5. Interpretation Services: Three tiers of interpretation services — Consecutive (BDT 2,500–3,000/hour), Simultaneous Whispering (BDT 4,500–5,000/hour), and Simultaneous Booth-Type (BDT 6,500/hour for conferences) — for English-French and French-Bengali language pairs.
6. Auditorium and Venue Rental: The 73-seat Auditorium Nouvelle Vague is available for booking by external organizations for seminars, presentations, corporate meetings, and cultural events, generating rental income.
7. Art Gallery Exhibition Services: La Galerie and Galerie Zoom host more than 20 exhibitions annually, open to all artists, with exhibition booking fees and potential art sale commissions.
8. Alliance Café La Véranda: Café operations within the Dhanmondi premises, serving French pastries and beverages. Currently undergoing a tender process (AFD/Café/2025) for third-party operation and management.
9. Cultural Product Sales: Sale of published cultural products such as the book 'Folk Melody of Bangladesh' (ISBN 9789843547057) at BDT 3,000–3,500, and potentially other cultural publications.
10. Artistic and Cultural Workshops: Fees for workshops including Ektara (BDT 8,000), Latin & Western Dance (BDT 9,000/3 months), Violin, Piano, Guitar, Painting, Photography, Theatre School, and others. Also includes specialized workshops for children.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Alliance Française de Dhaka is a non-profit French cultural institution offering French language courses for all age groups, official French proficiency testing (DELF-DALF, TCF, TEF), professional translation and interpretation services, cultural events and exhibitions, library access, and a range of artistic and cultural workshops. It operates two physical branches in Dhaka and serves as Bangladesh's exclusive authorized center for French language certification.

Product overview

Alliance Française de Dhaka is a cultural institute offering French language education and French-Bangladeshi cultural exchange. The core offerings include French language courses (Kids, Children, Teens, Adults, Study in France) and standardized tests (DELF-DALF, TCF, TEF, Placement). The institute provides physical facilities including Médiathèque Jules Verne library, Café La Véranda, two galleries (La Galerie and Galerie Zoom), and Auditorium Nouvelle Vague. Additional services include professional Translation (EN-FR, FR-EN, FR-BN, BN-FR) and Interpretation (Consecutive, Simultaneous Whispering, Booth-Type) services. The Curious Students program offers workshops including Web Radio, Rooftop Gardening, Cooking Class, Café Conversation, Atelier de Théâtre, Atelier de Lecture, and Grammaire autrement. An extensive workshops program covers Ektara, Visual Storytelling, Design & Typography, Violin, Photography, Latin/Western Dance, Western Classical Guitar, Piano, Painting, Friday Theatre School, and Subcontinental Classical Music. Membership tiers provide graduated access to these resources. The institute celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2024 with special cultural events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• French Language Courses French language instruction for all age groups and proficiency levels, including Study in France counseling and external/on-site delivery for institutions and private learners.
• French Proficiency Testing (DELF-DALF, TCF, TEF, Placement) Standardized French language proficiency examinations (DELF-DALF, TCF, TEF) and Placement Tests administered at the Dhaka center, with globally recognized certification.
• Translation Services Professional translation of official documents, research papers, poetry, screenplays, subtitles, short stories, novels, and comics between English-French, French-Bengali, and Bengali-French language pairs.
• Interpretation Services Three tiers of interpretation — Consecutive, Simultaneous Whispering, and Simultaneous Booth-Type — for English-French, French-English, French-Bengali, and Bengali-French language pairs, for business meetings, interviews, seminars, and conferences.
• Médiathèque Jules Verne (Library) A French-language multimedia library offering books, magazines, newspapers, films, audio CDs, and DVDs for lending to members, with lending procedures and an Ecological Corner section.
• La Galerie (Art Exhibition Space) One of Bangladesh's most renowned art exhibition spaces, hosting over 20 exhibitions annually and open to established artists for booking.
• Galerie Zoom An exhibition gallery for beginner and emerging artists wanting to showcase their artwork for the first time.
• Auditorium Nouvelle Vague A 73-seat fully air-conditioned auditorium with modern audio-video facilities, available for booking for seminars, presentations, concerts, film screenings, theatrical performances, and corporate events.
• Café La Véranda A French-style café within the Dhanmondi premises offering tea, coffee, and French pastries (Paris Brest, Quiche Lorraine, Profiteroles, Cannelé) in a social atmosphere.
• Membership Program Annual membership subscriptions in Student (BDT 1,000), Associate/Full (BDT 2,500), and Corporate (BDT 7,500) tiers providing access to library, cultural events, course discounts, and the community ecosystem.
• Cultural Events Programming Ongoing cultural programming including film festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, theatre productions, book launches, puppet shows, and exclusive events under EUNIC Bangladesh and Francophonie projects.
• Web Radio A digital broadcasting platform for French-language music, interviews, reports, and cultural programs, also serving as a listening-practice tool for French language students.
• Artistic and Cultural Workshops Fee-based workshops covering Ektara (one-string folk instrument), Latin & Western Dance, Violin, Piano, Western Classical Guitar, Painting, Photography, Design & Typography, Friday Theatre School, Visual Storytelling for Children, and Subcontinental Classical Music.
• Cultural Product Sales (Publications) Sale of cultural publications including the 'Folk Melody of Bangladesh' anthology (ISBN 9789843547057), priced at BDT 3,000–3,500 (special offer).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 65 years of continuous operation since 1959, demonstrating institutional longevity and sustained cultural impact.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Bangladesh)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2024Collaborated with Alliance Française de Dhaka to host a magnificent orchestra event 'Orchestration in Bengali Song' (La chanson bengalie: l'orchestration) featuring Bengali music performed by Flaming Acoustics, as part of the 65th Anniversary celebrations.
• Shah Cement (Bangladesh)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2024Shah Cement provided invaluable support for the publication of 'Folk Melody of Bangladesh,' an anthology of Bangladeshi folk music in standard notation compiled and edited by Iftekhar Anwar. Shah Cement's contribution was instrumental in making the project achievable and ensuring these cultural treasures are preserved and made accessible globally.
• Netherlands Embassy in BangladeshminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Supported the 'Invisible Stories' puppetry theatre project by Laurie Cannac, performed as part of the 65th Anniversary celebrations and subsequent Bangladesh tour.
• Goopy Bagha ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-producer of 'Song of Whales' animation film by Afroza Hossain Sara, in association with Alliance Française de Dhaka and Team Platform.
• West Meets East Screenplay LabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023International screenplay development lab that awarded first prize to 'Song of Whales' and 'Song of Jhinuk' animation film projects by Afroza Hossain Sara, supporting their development.
• British Council BangladeshminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Provided grants through the 'Transforming Narrative' project to visual artist Azizee Fawmi Khan, a represented artist at Alliance Française de Dhaka.
• Institut FrançaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal French cultural institute providing international support, resources, and programming frameworks for Alliance Française institutions worldwide. A key institutional partner in the global Alliance Française network.
• Fondation Alliance FrançaisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe global foundation supporting and overseeing all Alliance Française institutions worldwide, providing educational frameworks, brand standards, and institutional legitimacy to the network.
• Campus FrancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial French agency for higher education and international student promotion. Works with Alliance Française de Dhaka to support students interested in studying in France, providing counseling and application guidance.
• French Embassy in Bangladesh (Ambassade de France au Bangladesh)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe French diplomatic mission in Bangladesh, closely collaborating with Alliance Française de Dhaka on cultural programming, artist exchanges, and promotion of French language and culture in Bangladesh.
• France Éducation InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench government agency responsible for international educational cooperation, providing examination frameworks and certification support for DELF-DALF, TCF, and TEF tests administered at Alliance Française de Dhaka.
• FLE (Fédération des Alliances Françaises)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation of French Alliances providing resources and frameworks for French language teaching (Français Langue Étrangère) at Alliance Française institutions.
• CCI Paris Île-de-FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a partner in the French cultural ecosystem supporting Alliance Française institutions with business and trade-related cultural programming.
• L'association de la belle tomateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner association for the Rooftop Gardening initiative at Alliance Française de Dhaka, promoting sustainable urban agriculture and environmental awareness through rooftop gardening activities.
• EUNIC Bangladesh (European Union National Institutes for Culture)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUNIC Bangladesh brings together European cultural institutes in Bangladesh, including Alliance Française de Dhaka, for collaborative cultural projects and events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alliance Française de Karachi: A sister Alliance Française in Karachi, Pakistan, delivering French language instruction, DELF-DALF certification, and cultural events under the same global AF network. Comparable for South Asian peer benchmarking and operating context.
• British Council Bangladesh: The British Council operates in Bangladesh as a competing foreign cultural and English language institution, delivering language courses, standardized testing (IELTS), and cultural programming. Closest in-country peer competing for the same discretionary cultural and language education spend.
• Alliance Française de Bombay: A sister Alliance Française in Mumbai, India, offering French language courses, DELF-DALF testing, cultural events, and translation services under the same global network. Direct comparable in scope, structure, and revenue model — useful for benchmarking regional pricing and operating benchmarks.
• Goethe-Institut Bangladesh: The German cultural institute in Bangladesh, offering German language courses, cultural events, and library services through the global Goethe-Institut network. Directly comparable foreign cultural institute peer with similar operating model and audience overlap in Dhaka.
• Alliance Française de Chennai: A sister Alliance Française in Chennai, India, providing French language courses, testing, and cultural events. Comparable South Asian peer for course pricing, event programming scale, and institutional operating benchmarks.
• Alliance Française de Calcutta: A sister Alliance Française in Kolkata, India — same regional South Asian context, similar mix of language instruction, certified testing, and cultural programming. Directly comparable for understanding cross-border peer dynamics and course/test pricing in the same linguistic market.
• Alliance Française de Lahore: A sister Alliance Française in Lahore, Pakistan, operating French language and cultural programming under the same global network. Regional peer for South Asian operating context and customer acquisition benchmarks.

Emerging players

• Duolingo: A leading mobile-first language learning platform offering free and freemium French courses globally. Not a direct competitor for certified testing but represents the disruptive digital alternative threatening traditional language school course enrollment, particularly among younger Bangladeshi learners.

Broad incumbents

• Fondation Alliance Française (Paris): The global foundation that supports and coordinates the worldwide Alliance Française network. As the institutional umbrella and brand steward, it sets programming, certification, and quality standards that AFD operates within — relevant for understanding network-level capabilities and constraints.

Others

• EUNIC Bangladesh: The cluster of European Union National Institutes for Culture operating in Bangladesh, of which AFD is a member. Relevant as the institutional coordination mechanism for collaborative cultural programming, grant access, and partner-network relationships that AFD leverages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@alliancefrancaisededhaka3939/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/afdhaka

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alliance Française de Dhaka