Dear Sir/Madam,

You are cordially invited to a roundtable discussion on ‘Threats to Cultural Life of Adivasis’, which will take place at the Rehearsal Room of the training building (ground floor) of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (Segun Bagicha) at 9:30 AM on 14 March 2008.
Prof. Rafiqul Islam, an eminent educationist and writer will chair the roundtable discussion. Writers, researchers, traditional medicine practitioners, and environmentalists will share their thoughts on different aspects of Adivasi cultural life and the modern-day threats to diverse cultural heritages of Bangladesh.
The roundtable is part of the Adivasi Cultural Festival 2008 that is taking place at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Philip Gain
Director

PROGRAM

14 March 2008 (Friday)

9:30 Registration
09:45 Introduction to the theme of the roundtable discussion (Philip Gain)
10:45 Discussion on Adivasi cultural life and the modern-day threats to diverse cultural heritages of Bangladesh.

Chair: Prof. Rafiqul Islam

Designated discussants: Dr. Noazesh Ahmed—Destruction of forests and nature leading to cultural erosion; Mr. Dwijen Sarma—destruction of species affecting forest culture; Farhad Mazhar—Development actions threatening Adivasi Culture; Zakarias Dumri—One nation two languages: the case of Mahali; Rambhajan Koiri—Languages of the tea communities; Ritesh Chakma, Jonik Nokerk, Jerome Hagidag and Mr. Dayal —Value of rituals and medicinal plants; Pavel Partha—Traditional knowledge of ethnic communities.
12:00 Open discussion

Organized by

Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)
4/4/1(B) (3rd Floor) Block-A, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207
Tel: 9121385 E-mail:sehd@citechco.net, www.sehd.org

Inauguration at 3:30 PM on 13 March 2008
Cultural Evening 5:30 to 7:30 (every day)

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
Segunbagicha, Ramna, Dhaka

You are cordially invited to a three-day Adivasi cultural festival from 13 to 15 March 2008 at the open stage of Chitrashala Plaza of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka. Photography exhibition and display of Adivasi artefacts [at Exhibition Gallery of Shilpakala Academy] are also part of the festival.
The inaugural ceremony of the festival will take place at 3:30 PM on 13 March followed by the first cultural evening. Manjulika Chakma, an eminent entrepreneur in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, will inaugurate the festival.

Raja Devasish Roy, Chakma Circle Chief and special assistant to the chief advisor of the caretaker government will grace the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest. Eminent writer Selina Hossain will be key speaker at the inauguration. The special guests will be Qamrul Hasan ndc, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Tanja Haque, Country Representative, Christian Aid.
Cultural shows will be held from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on 13, 14, and 15 March [preceded by discussion on different aspects of cultural life of the Adivasis]. The photography exhibition and display of artefacts will remain open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day.
You are invited to bring your friends along.

Prof. Sakhawat Ali Khan Philip Gain
Chairman, SEHD Director, SEHD


CULTURAL PROGRAMS

13 March (Thursday) 2008
Inaugural Session 3:30 PM
Welcome Address: Philip Gain
Inaugurator: Manjulika Chakma
Chair: Prof. Sakhawat Ali Khan, Chairman, SEHD
Key discussant: Selina Hossain
Chief Guest: Raja Devasish Roy
Special Guests: Qamrul Hasan ndc and Tanja Haque

Cultural Show 5:30-7:30 PM
Performed by: Oraon, Chakma, Khasi, Chak and Rakhaing cultural teams

14 March (Friday) 2008
Discussion 04:00-05:30 PM
Key speaker: A K Sheram
Guests of honor: S A Wahab, S C Albert Soren and Sagorika Roaza
Chair: Thongam Dhirendra Snigho

Cultural Show 5:30-07:30 PM
Performed by: Santal, Marma, Tanchangya, Khyang, Mandi and Tea community cultural teams

15 March (Saturday) 2008
Closing Ceremony
Discussion 4:00-5:30 PM
Key speaker: Prashanta Tripura
Guests of honor: Promode Mankin, Sudatta Bikash Tanchangya,
Gidison Pradhan Suchiang
Chair: Farida Akhter

Cultural Show 5:30-7:30 PM
Performed by: Mahali, Bawm, Tripura, Monipuri and Hajong cultural teams

Organized by

Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)
in association with

Tripura Kallyan Foundation (Rangamati), Bawm Social Council, Bangladesh Khyang Kallayan Sangstha, Rakhaing Development Foundation (RDF), Chak Shilpi Gosthi, Greater Sylhet Indigenous Peoples’ Forum, Monipuri Cultural Team (Sreemangal), Mandi Sanskritik Gosthi, Santal Adivasi Shilipi Gosthi, Bagania (Tea community), Tanchangya Shilpi Gosthi (Rajostholi), Dhumkuria Adivasi Shilpi Gosthi, Mahali Adivasi Artho-samajik Unnayan Sangstha, Lengura Hajong Shilpi Gosthi, Marma Shilpi Gosthi (Bandarban), Khagrachhari Sangskritik Unnayan Kendra (Chakma), UBINIG, Gono Unnayan Prochesta, CCDB, Gono Kalyan Trust, Madaripur Legal Aid Association, FIVDB, Narogik Uddyog and Church of Bangladesh.

Sponsored by: Christian Aid

You are cordially invited to the launching ceremony of “Stolen Forests” a photography book authored by Philip Gain and published by the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD). The launching will be followed by a discussion on the book and issues covered in it. Prof. Wahidduddin Mahmud, eminent economist will be the chief guest at the launching ceremony.

Stolen Forests is a book of images and critical text about the state of the forests of Bangladesh. Author Philip Gain has been through the forests in hills, coast and plains at different times for about two decades. This book reflects his predilection for images of forests; and to him forests are not just trees and the wildlife they support but also the communities that live in the forests, their knowledge, education, history, traditions, technology, culture and lots more. Please join us at the launching ceremony at 10:30 AM on 17 May 2007 (Thursday) at the CIRDAP Auditorium (17 Topkhana Road, Dhaka).

Time & Date: 10:30 AM May 17, 2007 (Thursday)
Venue: Center for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP)
17 Topkhana Road, Dhaka Tel: 9558751, 9559680, 9564776
Organized by: Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)

Stolen Forests: Photography Exhibition, by Philip Gain and Ronald Halder

Documentary Film Show on Forest, Adivasi Life and Nature

You are cordially invited to the inauguration of the photography exhibition and the documentary film show, which will take place on 18 May 2007 Friday at 4:00 PM at Drik Gallery.

Dr. Noazesh Ahmed, an eminent agricultural scientist and photographer of international repute, will be the honorable chief guest at the inauguration. The special guests will be Mr. Philip J. DeCosse, Syed Noor Hossain, Ms. Manjulika Chakma, Mr. Manjare Hasin Murad and Mr. Arunendu Tripura.

Prof. Golam Rahman will chair the inauguration and discussion on the exhibition and the film show.

The exhibition at Drik Gallery will remain open for visitors from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM from 18 to 24 March 2006. Documentary film show on forests and nature will take place every day from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM during these days.

Venue: Drik Gallery
House 58, Road 15/A (new), Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209
Tel: 880-2-8112954, 8123412, 9120125
Date: 18 to 24 May 2007; 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM