Odommo Chattagram
CU wins hearts at 'Tarunya Utsab’
University students perform a traditional dance at the end of the two-day “Tarunya Utsab” (youth cultural festival) of the 12-day Odommo Chattagram festival, an initiative of The Daily Star, at Chittagong District Shilpakala Academy yesterday. Photo: STAR
Chittagong University was adjudged the winner at the end of the two-day “Tarunya Utsab” (youth cultural festival) of the 12-day Odommo Chattagram festival, an initiative of The Daily Star, yesterday. Chittagong University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS) clinched the runner-up title while University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC) and Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) were jointly awarded the third position. The youth festival at Chittagong District Shilpakala Academy brought forth university-going students of Chittagong to showcase their culture, tradition and heritage through unique art forms in their local dialect. The judges -- Subrata Barua Rony, founder member of the musical band Souls, recitation artist Subhra Biswas and Rabindra Sangeet singer Mili Chowdhury -- congratulated the remaining universities for their commendable efforts. The remaining contenders were from Southern University, Premier University and Begum Gul Chemonara Trust University. The winning team of CU presented a video on beautiful sites in Chittagong followed by the depiction of the thrill of going to the university on a shuttle train. Their performance ended with a play on “Malka Banu”, a local folklore. The CUVAS team drew the admiration of the judges with their dance routine, acting and musical performance. The USTC team performed the same routine with jokes and poems in addition. The CUET team was unique from the remaining performances with their mime show on how foreign cultures were affecting their own and finally ended their piece by relating jokes. Begum Gul Chemonara Trust University team presented songs and recitations, Southern University team performed dances, instrumental music, a fashion show and drama and Premier University team presented two dance routines, a drama and a musical show. The youth festival was inaugurated at 5:00pm by educationalist Rawsan Ara Hanif who pointed out the importance of using the Chittagong dialect of Bangla language. Many people might think that speaking in that dialect may make them look less smart but to set aside this dialect would mean losing a taste of Chittagong, she said. Adnan Mannan, a teacher in the genetic engineering and biotechnology department of CU, said a lack of interest among youngsters is causing local languages to die out in the present age of globalisation. “We are proud of Chittagong, its language and culture,” he said. Shubhra Biswas said the prominent figures in the arenas of drama, music, dance and literature in Bangladesh are full of people who are descended from Chittagong. Chittagong Bureau Chief of The Daily Star Raisul Haque Bahar, Fulki Principal Shila Momen and Shilpakala Academy Cultural Officer Moslem Uddin Sikder were also present at the programme.
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