Back to news
13 Dec 2016 | News

International Mountain Day Celebrated in Dhaka, Bangladesh

2 mins Read

70% Complete
Golam Rasul highlighting the importance of cultural heritage and its embedded value for sustainable mountain development in CHT Photo: Anu Kumari Lama

ICIMOD participated in a discussion and mountain fair programme organized by the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MoCHTA) on December 11  to mark International Mountain Day 2016 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In line with this year’s theme. “Mountain Cultures: Celebrating Diversity and Strengthening Identity”, ICIMOD and the Bandarban Hill District Council celebrated hill culture, diversity, and identity.

Secretary of MoCHTA, Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura, chaired the discussion programme. He highlighted ICIMOD’s contributions to promoting sustainable development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), an area that epitomizes mountain culture and diversity in Bangladesh. The region is crucial to strengthening identity, and strengthening customary local traditions, practices, and languages is critical in this regard.

Tripura thanked ICIMOD and Golam Rasul for bringing out a vision document for CHT on sustainable development goals. Rasul shed light on the importance of cultural heritage. He talked about the embedded value through which mountain culture, and the identity of CHT’s ethnic communities  can be strengthened.

Minister Rashed Khan Menon inaugurated the mountain fair programme. Its key objectives included highlighting the importance of mountain people, who, as largely farm and non-farm based producers, have diversified livelihoods .

Anu K Lama briefing the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon on Himlalica Tourism Pilot Projects in Ruma Upazila, Bandarban district, CHT
Photo: Shiva Hari Khatri

The fair is a five-day programme that will continue till December 16.  It intends to benefit the people of Ruma Upazila, Bandarban district, and hopes that the exhibition of local handcrafts, food, horticultural and agricultural produce, and traditional attire, will help get word on Bandarban further out. All of the local products have been grouped together under the ‘Bandarban’ brand. Menon and other dignitaries present on the inaugural day showed great interest in learning about the Bandarban tourism pilot project, the Bandarban brand, and the products on display.

Altogether, 63 stalls are exhibiting at the fair. ICIMOD publications, posters and photos are being displayed in one of them, and questions from visitors are most welcome. Other stalls showcase mostly textiles and handicrafts, and the local dishes and drinks of the CHT. A cultural programme showcasing local culture was put up on the first day of the event.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon presided over the inauguration as chief guest. Other dignitaries, from State Minister to Councils Chairmen (Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban) were also present on the inaugural day. A message from David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD, was shared with the attending dignitaries.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related Content

Continue exploring this topic

30 Jun 2017 News
Upper Indus Basin Network and Indus Forum Collaboration Meeting

The key objective of the joint meeting was to synergize the efforts of institutions and individuals affiliated to the Upper ...

15 Nov 2016 News
New Publication: Climate Change Impacts on Upper Indus Basin Hydrology

The Indus is one of the most meltwater-dependent rivers on earth. It hosts a large, rapidly growing population, and the ...

9 Nov 2016 News
Regional Workshop on ‘Measurement Reporting and Verification (MRV) in the Context of REDD+ in the Hindu Kush Himalayas’

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) Regional REDD+ Initiative organised the regional workshop ‘Measurement Reporting and Verification (MRV) ...

30 Jul 2019 Livelihoods
Our biodiversity, our food, our health

Agricultural biodiversity is essential to ensuring food security, nutrition, and human wellbeing. The diversity in crops and livestock seen today ...

Bucking the trend: Glaciers in Astore Basin have remained stable in recent times

Ground-based research results showed much lesser mass loss compared with that detected through remote sensing, with remarkably low uncertainty. The ...

30 Jul 2018 HI-RISK
Communicating flood early warning in the Ratu watershed

The team’s first stop was Bardibas, where ICIMOD has set up a community-based flood early warning system (CBFEWS) on the ...

20 May 2022 News
Bee engaged: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems

Each year, we mark 20 May as World Bee Day to raise awareness about the essential role bees play ...

24 Oct 2016 News
Monsoon Discharge Measurements of Langtang Khola and Lirung Outlet

To catch the highest discharge of Langtang Khola and Lirung outlet, a team of glacio-hydrologists from the International Centre for ...