Multifarious beauty of Chittagong Hill Tracts

Celebrating the 18th founding anniversary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA), a five-day (July 15-19) group photography exhibition and competition titled “Chittagong Hill Tracts: People and Nature” is being held at Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi in the capital.

Both professional and amateur photographers from across Bangladesh are participants in the exhibition. From 100 selected photographs, three judges -- Shoeb Faruquee, Manzar-e Hasin Murad and Monirul Khan -- of the competition selected Jewel Chakma, Md. Zobayer Hossain and Nidal Adnan for first, second and third prizes respectively. They received Taka 50,000 (first), 35,000 (second) and 25,000 (third) as prize money.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu graced the occasion as chief guest while Bir Bahadur Ushe Singh, state minister for MOCHTA attended the event as special guest. Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura (ndc), secretary of MOCHTA chaired the programme.

Under Premier Sheikh Hasina's historical peace agreement of Chittagong Hill Tracts, a new ministry called MOCHTA has been established on 15 July 1998. The exhibition celebrates the memorable day with images of diverse natural beauty and cultural heritage of the hilly region.   

UNDP, FAO, BRAC, HKI, MJF, CARITAS, PADAKHEP and BAC are associates of the exhibition that remains open daily from 3pm to 8pm.