GED of ULAB organized Seminar on Indigenous Community and Cultural Diversity

The General Education Department (GED) of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) in conjunction with Bangladesh Indigenous Cultural Forum (BICF), Hill Resource Centre (HRC) and Centre for Heritage Studies (CenHerSt) organized a webinar titled "Indigenous Community and Cultural Diversity" on August 25, 2020.  The webinar highlighted the contribution of Bangladeshi indigenous peoples in cultural diversity and biodiversity conservation through governance mechanisms. In the Seminar the speakers underscored the importance of cultural diversity in the society and they stressed that the state as well as all the stakeholders should take responsibility to preserve the culture and language of the indigenous community. The speakers emphasized that the implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord is the precondition to protect culture and indigenous people. Renowned scholars and historians from Bangladesh had an in-depth discussion on how to protect the culture and traditional practices of the Bangladeshi indigenous people that are on the verge of extinction.

The webinar started with a welcome speech by Professor Shahnaj Husne Jahan, head of the General Education Department, ULAB. The prominent scholars from Bangladesh Professor Amena Mohsin, PhD, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka; Professor Mesbah Kamal, PhD Department of History, University of Dhaka; Professor Shourav Sikder, PhD Department of Linguistics, University of Dhaka;  Barrister Raja Devasish Roy, Chakma Circle Chief and Ms. Chandra Tripura , General Secretary, Bangladesh Indigenous Cultural Forum, took part in the discussion. There were also indigenous dance performances by Bangladesh Indigenous Cultural Forum. Besides, students, teachers and scholars from different universities attended the webinar. Rigan Chakma, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator, GED, ULAB delivered the vote of thanks to conclude the program.