A four-day Hill Tracts Festival and Youth Celebration was inaugurated at the Parbattya Chattogram Complex on Bailey Road in Dhaka. On Wednesday afternoon, the event was inaugurated by cutting a ribbon and releasing balloons. The inauguration was done by the Adviser to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Ambassador (Retd.) Supradip Chakma, Adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, and Adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Nahid Islam.
Traditional bamboo flutes and musical instruments were played during the event. Afterward, a ceremonial lighting of the mangal deep (auspicious lamp) took place. Following the inauguration of the festival, the guests toured the various stalls at the fair.
In the second part of the event, the distinguished athletes from the Chittagong Hill Tracts were honored, including Rituparna Chakma, the Bangladesh Football Federation’s SAFF-winning footballer, goalkeeper Rupna Chakma, Monica Chakma, international referee Joya Chakma, national boxing champion Sukrishna Chakma, and triathlete (Ironman) Rajesh Chakma.
In the second part of the event, the following distinguished individuals from the Chittagong Hill Tracts were honored: Rituporna Chakma, the SAF-winning footballer from the Bangladesh Football Federation; goalkeeper Rupna Chakma; Monica Chakma; international referee Joya Chakma; national boxing champion Sukrishna Chakma; and triathlete (Ironman) Rajesh Chakma.
The welcoming address at the event was delivered by Dr. Rashida Ferdous, Secretary (Routine Duties) of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. Following this, the guests enjoyed an engaging cultural program.
During the event, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, the wife of the Adviser to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Nandita Chakma, the chairmen of the three hill district councils of Chittagong, government secretaries, senior officials, and representatives from domestic and international organizations, along with officials from the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, were present.
Liberty News National Correspondent reports that, under the initiative of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, 83 stalls have been set up at the four-day fair. The fair will continue on February 1st from 9 AM to 10 PM. Every day, from evening until 9 PM, there will be traditional cultural performances from the three hill districts.
LND/SAKIB
