Adibasi Mela in Cox’s Bazar
Call to preserve cultural heritage of indigenous people
Staff Correspondent
With a view to flourishing the country’s tourism industry and encouraging people to cast vote for Cox’s Bazar and the Sundarbans in the competition of “The New7Wonders foundation” a daylong Adibasi Mela (Indigenous People Fair) was held in the tourist town of Cox’s Bazar on Friday.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Qader inaugurated the fair. “We should work together to protect cultural diversities of the indigenous people as those are valuable resources for us,” he said, inaugurating the first ever Indigenous Community Fair at Cox’s Bazar Shaibal Sea Beach point as chief guest.
“The fair is a milestone in terms of projecting their colorful life and livelihood to the whole world,” he said, adding, “The fair will help protect culture and heritage of the country’s indigenous people.”
The Minister mentioned that the indigenous communities of the country have varieties of cultural activities. “If we can showcase these cultural activities, we will be able to attract more tourists,” he said.
Terming tourism as one of the tools of “Din Badal” announced by the present Awami League (AL) Government, he said the government has identified the tourism sector as thrust sector and taken different steps for its development.
To promote the tourism industry, he said the government has finalized the tourism policy as well as a draft law which will be passed at the Jatiya Sangsad soon.
Referring to the government commitment to making tourism friendly environment in the country, BPC Chairman Shafique Alam Mehdi said, the government has taken initiatives to form tourist police to ensure security for the tourists. About the development of Cox’s Bazar, the largest unbroken sea beach in the world, he said work on turning Cox’s Bazar into the world’s most beautiful sea beach is going on in full swing. The BPC chairman also sought cooperation of all.
200 artistes of 12 indigenous communities from Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox’s Bazar including Chakma, Tripura, Khumi, Bom, Mro, Lusai, Pangkhoa and Rakhain participated in the fair and performed their traditional dances and songs.
A total of 30 organisations, mostly NGOs and other business houses, showcased their products and services in 30 stalls in the fair. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) and Channel-i jointly organized the fair at Shaibal Sea Beach point.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
