The Business Standard and TBS Graduates were media partners of the festival.
Participants take part in the ‘Forest and Life Festival 2026’, organised by Pittachhara Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative at Khedachhara Primary School ground in Matiranga, Khagrachhari, on 31 October 2026, featuring traditional games, drama and cultural performances highlighting the region’s forests, wildlife and heritage. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin
“>
Participants take part in the ‘Forest and Life Festival 2026’, organised by Pittachhara Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative at Khedachhara Primary School ground in Matiranga, Khagrachhari, on 31 October 2026, featuring traditional games, drama and cultural performances highlighting the region’s forests, wildlife and heritage. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin
Traditional games, cultural performances by different ethnic communities, theatre and folk music marked the Forest and Life Festival 2026 in Pittachhara, Matiranga upazila of Khagrachhari, bringing together hundreds of nature enthusiasts, environmental activists and community representatives.
The daylong festival, organised by the Pittachhara Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative, aimed to raise awareness about forest and wildlife conservation while celebrating local cultural heritage.
The festival was inaugurated at 2pm today (31 October) at the playground of Khedachhara Government Primary School in Purba Khedachhara. Khagrachhari lawmaker Wadud Bhuiyan attended as the chief guest, while Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Jaber and BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh were present as special guests.
The first session featured traditional games, including Ghila, bamboo games and pot-breaking competitions. From 3pm to 5pm, cultural groups representing different ethnic communities performed traditional music and dance.
An evening discussion on forest and biodiversity conservation was followed by the presentation of the Pittachhara Environmental Awards 2026. The session was chaired by Mahfuz Ahmed Russell, founder and executive director of the Pittachhara Foundation.
Participants take part in the ‘Forest and Life Festival 2026’, organised by Pittachhara Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative at Khedachhara Primary School ground in Matiranga, Khagrachhari, on 31 October 2026, featuring traditional games, drama and cultural performances highlighting the region’s forests, wildlife and heritage. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin
“>
Participants take part in the ‘Forest and Life Festival 2026’, organised by Pittachhara Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative at Khedachhara Primary School ground in Matiranga, Khagrachhari, on 31 October 2026, featuring traditional games, drama and cultural performances highlighting the region’s forests, wildlife and heritage. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin
Participants included Dr Zinat Mahrook Banu, former head of the Anthropology and Decorative Arts Department at Bangladesh National Museum; Dr Md Anwarul Islam, chief executive and co-founder of WildTeam and former professor at Dhaka University; Ngyohla Mong, director of Khagrachhari Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institute; and Md Abdul Awal Sarker, forest conservator of Rangamati.
Three individuals and organisations were honoured for their contributions to conservation.
Sohel Shyam, an environmental activist from Sreemangal and founder of Stand for Our Endangered Wildlife (SEW), received the Biodiversity Conservation Award.
Harirampur Shyamol Nisorgo, a voluntary organisation from Manikganj working on tree plantation, plastic pollution prevention and biodiversity conservation, received the Nature and Environmental Conservation Award.
Teacher and environmental activist Ritu Parvi, also known by her academic name Parveen Akhtar, received the Environment-friendly Social Initiative Award for her work on tree plantation, biodiversity protection and community-based conservation.
The cultural segment featured a play titled Searching for the Forest, staged by the Pittachhara Cultural Group, followed by performances by Chattogram-based musical group Agnibina. Folk artist Baga Taleb performed at the closing session.
Speaking to TBS, Mahfuz Ahmed Russell said the festival sought to highlight the relationship between people, forests, wildlife and nature while celebrating the cultural traditions of local communities.
The initiative also aimed to bring together government and private organisations, policymakers and conservation activists to exchange ideas and develop joint efforts to protect nature, he added.
The Business Standard and TBS Graduates were media partners of the festival.
The Pittachhara Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative covers 75 acres in the eastern hills and is home to around 150 bird species, 27 species of snakes and 20 species of frogs and turtles. The forest also provides habitat for slow lorises, pangolins and fishing cats.
The initiative has developed a nursery with 6,000 native trees, along with a medical centre, library and cultural centre.
About The Author
