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

High Yielding Variety of Oat Grass to Address Fodder Crisis in the Kangchenjunga Landscape, Bhutan

The Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI) is a transboundary initiative which covers an area of 25,085.8 square kilometres, ...

14 Sep 2015 News
Experts visit WUMP districts to better understand water availability and use

ICIMOD and HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal initiated a collaborative action research to develop local Water Use Master Plans (WUMP) for the Koshi ...

16 Dec 2013 News
White paper launched on COP 19 sidelines

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) supported the launch of the Association of International Research ...

3 Jul 2017 Himalica
Roadmap for Tourism Development of Bandarban Hill District Launched

Menon called on the private sector to join forces with the government to develop the country's tourism infrastructure around its ...

12 Apr 2018 News
AGORA Workshop in Nepal (29 -30 March, 2018)

Introduction The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United ...

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 Jun 2015 News
Nepal deploys information platform for recovery and reconstruction

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Government of Nepal, in close collaboration with the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and technical ...

1 Sep 2016 KSL
KSLCDI Partners Come Together to Evaluate Activities at Annual Review and Planning Workshop

The annual ‘Regional Review and Annual Planning Workshop for the year 2016 and 2017’ on Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and ...