Now waiting for the final fight of the top ten contestants

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Contestants from different parts of the country are registering in queue. Excitement in everyone’s eyes and determination to become a chef.

Such determined contestants were seen in the Mohakhali Community Center premises of the capital on Saturday morning. The selection round of the country’s first fusion cooking reality show ‘Star Ship Fusion Chef’ is being held here.

‘Star Ship Fusion Kitchen: Season-2, Powered by Ama’ started airing on Channel I, Charki and Prothom Alo digital platforms from 4 November 2025. The last episode of the 30-episode show aired on 24 February 2026.

The event was not limited to showcasing new fusion recipes. There was also an opportunity for audience participation. Inspired by the recipes featured in each episode, viewers submitted their own fusion recipes. From there, the best 60 food lovers have been selected. The much awaited ‘Selection Round’ of the ‘Star Ship Fusion Chef’ reality show was held to find the top ten culinary talents from across the country.

Contestant MN Saleh came from Narsingdi’s Manohardi. He works in a local bakery. MN Saleh told Prothom Alo, “I like to cook.” The fusion I did today, I believe I will make it to the top ten.

MN Saleh created two fusion recipes in the selection round. Continental’s fusion ‘Spicy Lemony Potato Gizzard’ and Japanese sushi fusion ‘Gardlip Sushi with Snackhead Chips and Yogurt Sauce’.

MN Saleh made it to the top 60 by submitting a photo of the recipe ‘Shrimp Momo Lemongrass Jal-Bara Broth’.

Another contestant is Lavanya Zaman. Doing Masters in Economics at Eden Women’s College. He made it to the top 60 with the recipe ‘Bengal Ilisha Blossom Bites’. In the selection round, Lavanya cooked a fusion of ‘Chicken Stuffed Tomato with Ghee Roasted Carrot’.

Lavanya Zaman said that she had a strong interest in cooking since childhood, the inspiration came from her mother. He said, “Mom always asks me to do something outside of the usual cooking style that everyone is used to.” I also try accordingly. I got an idea about fusion cooking by watching the show Star Ship Fusion Kitchen. Which helped me make it to the top 60 of the event.’

The venue is like a ‘live kitchen’.

After several rounds of verification from the recipes sent by thousands of contestants, 60 contestants landed in the final battle today. The Mohakhali Community Center was transformed into a giant ‘Live Kitchen’, where aspiring chefs battle it out with their culinary magic at each station.

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After registering in the morning, contestants went out for shopping. They had to buy raw materials for making their own recipes within a certain budget. The rest of the cooking ingredients were already in the kitchen. Everyone gets 40 minutes to prepare a fusion recipe of their choice.

Competitors’ fusion cuisine is judged out of a total of 50 marks. Among them were important things like innovation, food test, serving and hygiene. Three renowned chefs of the country were in charge of the judges – Cluster Executive Chef Mohammad Asaduzzaman Noor of Westin Dhaka and Sheraton Dhaka, Chef Rafia Ahmed of La Meridien Dhaka and Culinary Expert and Bangladesh Technical Education Board Assessor Kakali Koli.

Mohammad Asaduzzaman Noor said to Prothom Alo that this arrangement will advance the future of fusion cooking in the country. Both complement each other. Hopefully, the contestants didn’t just memorize recipes, they understood food chemistry. Especially the use of international cuisine with local spices, which we are seeing today, is a big milestone for the culinary arts and fusion cuisine of Bangladesh.

Regarding the fusion cooking prepared by the contestants, Rafia Ahmed said, ‘Many people cannot match foreign food with local taste. But most of the contestants here are successful in this. It is clear from their performances and activities that they have practiced fusion a lot. Thanks to the organizers for taking such a nice initiative.”

Regarding the cooking style and fusion taste of the contestants, Kakali Koli said, ‘I have tested the cooking of all the contestants. According to the process, materials and nomenclature, the fusion also seems fine.

At the end of the day-long battle, the judges finally selected the top 10 contestants. They are Prasenjit Chandra Malo, Sadiq Hassan Sameer, Hassan Chishti, Atiqul Ali Mahi, Syed Rahat Hossain, Lubaina Afra Islam, Mohammad Abid, Humayun Kabir, Mohammad Likhan and Taslima Ahmed.

These ten people will participate in the ‘Star Ship Fusion Chef’ competition. At the end of the final battle, the top three winners will receive a total prize of Tk 40 lakh—champion Tk 25 lakh, first runner-up Tk 10 lakh and second runner-up Tk 5 lakh.

The ‘Star Ship Fusion Chef’ competition will be made in total eight episodes. It will be broadcast on Channel I, Charki and Prothom Alo digital platforms.

This journey to find the best fusion chef in the country started with organizing ‘Star Ship Fusion Kitchen’. Which will culminate with the final battle of the ‘Star Ship Fusion Chef’ competition.

Chief Marketing Officer of Smile Food Products Ltd. Shoaib Md. Asaduzzaman told Prothom Alo, “Congratulations to those who have made it to the top ten list according to the judge’s verdict. The main aim of our initiative is to take the cuisine of Bangladesh to the global platform. We believe that the “Star Ship Fusion Chef” competition will make this initiative a reality.