On Wednesday, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma inaugurated a three-day Chaitra Sankranti and New Year Festival in Dhaka. Photo: PID

DHAKA, April 10, 2025 (BSS)- Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma inaugurated a three-day Chaitra Sankranti and New Year Festival here yesterday, said a press release today.

The adviser inaugurated the programmes of the festival at Shakyamuni Bouddha Vihara at Mirpur here, highlighting the culture and heritage of the hilly region.

Chaitra Sangkranti and New Year Festival is celebrated by various ethnic groups as Biju, Baisu, Sangrai, Changkran and Vishu.

A total of 45 organizations from three hill districts participated in the three-day festival and decorated 30 stalls in a hilly atmosphere. 

The fair featured traditional cultural performances and exhibition of hill handicrafts, food and equipment.
 
Subhashish Chakma, convener of the Biju, Baishu, Sangrai, Changkran, Bishu Fair Celebration Committee chaired the event.

Sakyamuni Bouddha Vihara Principal Proggananda Mohathero, SME Foundation Chairman Mushfiqur Rahman, Lt. Col. Parimal Bikash Chakma and member secretary of the organizing committee Subimal Chakma, also spoke on the occasion.

Supradip underscored the need for developing livelihood of the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region and bringing three institutions-Hill District Council, Regional Council and Development Board- out of the ‘engineering concept’ to ‘livelihood concept.’

The government is making strides to make the CHT economically dynamic, he said.