December 2, 2025
DHAKA – The rich culinary heritage of South Asia is legendary. In fact, the region can be referred to as a cluster of food nations that are consistently ranking among the best in the world for their culinary traditions.
Their food captivates the senses of people who are not even familiar with their vibrant fusion of flavours, ingredients, and techniques that have evolved over centuries. The region’s food culture has been heavily influenced by various empires trading on this route. And their own diversified topographical stock of ancient grains, and the sophisticated and aromatic array of spices make the backbone of the region’s culinary identity.
The SAARC Women’s Association, Dhaka Chapter, unveiled its newest initiative Flavours of Unity — A SAARC Culinary Journey, held in Dhaka, on 18 November 2025. The highlight of the launch was the presence of the celebrated chef and activist Asma Said Khan, founder of London’s Darjeeling Express, whose all-women kitchen is an unwavering symbol of advocacy for women’s empowerment through food.
“The cookbook is a vibrant mosaic of recipes contributed by women from all eight SAARC countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Each dish tells a story, not just of ingredients and techniques, but of heritage, memory, and the shared rhythms of South Asian life. Each recipe reflects the warmth of home kitchens, the diversity of regional flavours, and the deep cultural bonds that shape South Asian identity,” says Sonya Panni, President of the SAARC Women’s Association, Dhaka.
It is a cookbook that’s as much about diplomacy and solidarity as it is about delicious recipes. From the spice-laden curries of the subcontinent to the delicate coastal flavours of the Maldives, Flavours of Unity is a culinary passport that invites readers into the heart of home kitchens across the region.
Proceeds from the cookbook will directly support the Association’s long-standing philanthropic programs in Bangladesh. For nearly three decades, the SAARC Women’s Association has quietly but powerfully, championed healthcare and education for underserved communities.
Their initiatives include supplying critical equipment to the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute for 29 years, funding eye surgeries at Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute & Hospital for 27 years, supporting the Bhawanipur Girls Orphanage in Gazipur with essential supplies, partnering with the Jaago Foundation to run the “Adopt a Child” education program, among others.
“We believe that food has the extraordinary power to unite people,” said Sonya Panni, President of the SAARC Women’s Association, Dhaka. “Through this cookbook, we honour not just recipes, but the shared memories, connections, and values that bind our region together. And through our fundraising, we reaffirm our commitment to transforming lives across Bangladesh.”
In a time when global headlines often focus on division, Flavours of Unity offers a different narrative — one of shared tables, sisterhood, and the quiet power of community-led change.