Biju fair opens in Rangamati with a festive showcase of hill traditions
A five-day Biju fair has begun in Rangamati, celebrating the rich cultural traditions of the hill communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The fair was inaugurated this afternoon by Dipen Dewan, minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, at the premises of the Rangamati Minority Ethnic Cultural Institute. The event is jointly organised by the institute, the Rangamati Hill District Council, and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
The Biju fair brings together the hill communities’ major social festivals -- Biju, Baisu, Sangrai, Bihu, Changtran, Bishu, Sanglan, Changtrai and Pata -- creating a vibrant celebration of heritage, culture and community spirit.
At the opening ceremony, Minister Dewan underscored the importance of inclusive development. “If the Chittagong Hill Tracts lags behind, then Bangladesh will lag behind,” he said.
“Our prime minister has said there will be no discrimination anywhere, be it hills or plains. This Biju festival reminds us of our heritage. We have to preserve this heritage.” He added that the current BNP government would ensure no one is left behind when it comes to development.
The discussion meeting was chaired by Rangamati District Council Chairman Kajal Talukder and attended by senior officials, including Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Anup Kumar Chakma, Rangamati Region Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Nazmul Haque, Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdur Rakib, and Rangamati Minority Cultural Institute Director Jiten Chakma.
DC Nazma Ashrafi said the festival highlights the country’s diversity. “Through the Biju festival, we will be able to showcase the many ethnicities and cultures in this country.”
Council Chairman Kajal Talukder echoed the sentiment, noting that the fair allows the hill communities to present their heritage to the nation.
The fair features competitions in Goriya dance, bamboo pole walking, Ghila, Latim, and Pajon cooking. In the evening, the Mro community staged the drama "Rinaflung", followed by cultural programmes.
A total of 100 stalls have been set up, displaying traditional costumes, ornaments, and crafts of the hill people. The fair will continue until April 10.
The main Biju celebrations will take place from April 12 to 14, with a festive atmosphere already spreading across the three hill districts.