Rangamati, Apr 19 (V7N) -  Rangamati Commenting that there is no alternative to ensuring quality education in the hilly areas to improve the fate of the people of the hills, Su-Pradeep Chakma, Advisor to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, said that a quality education system must be ensured to eliminate the ongoing unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. And the Ministry of Hilly Tracts is working towards that goal. Responding to questions from journalists at the traditional Shangrai Water Festival and cultural program of the Marma community held at the Rangamati Stadium on Saturday, the Hilly Advisor said that law enforcement agencies and the administration are working together to safely rescue the five hilly students who were kidnapped in Khagrachari. After the students are rescued, initiatives will be taken to stop terrorism and extortion in the hilly areas. Action will be taken against those involved in misdeeds in the hills. At the same time, he expressed hope that peace will soon be maintained in the Chittagong Hill Tracts through the Sangrai festival.

Earlier, while inaugurating the water festival, he said, "There is no such thing as second, third and fourth in Bangladesh. There is no discrimination. We must ensure that no one is discriminated against in the future. Development must be done for everyone. We are all together, there can be diversity among us. We are all Bangladeshis." He said, "The Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, Hill District Council and District Administration work in the hilly areas. I want a change in this system. I want education-based development. Satellite education policy must be introduced to develop the education system." For students from remote areas, residential hostels should be created in the upazila headquarters up to the eighth grade and hostels in the district town up to the degree level. It is very important to improve the livelihood here and create a balanced environment. "If you are in the mountains to see harmonious development, you cannot think that you are lagging behind the plains. Everyone should tell us how development will take place. He called for women to come forward through cooperative societies by creating entrepreneurs for their empowerment. He said that the ministry will do whatever is necessary for the development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The government is working to eliminate inequality in the country, develop the economy and change the fate of the people. In an effort to preserve our own language, culture and heritage, the Shangrai Water Festival, an initiative of the Marma Cultural Society (MASS), was held at the Chinghlamaung Chowdhury Mari Stadium in Rangamati on Saturday (April 19).

The Marma community celebrates the Jalkeli festival to wash away all the sorrows, sorrows, and evil spirits of the old year and welcome the new year. Marma youth sprinkle water on each other to the tune of the Sangrai song. The day-long festival turns into a meeting of the hill people and the Bengalis. The water festival organized under the chairmanship of the Sangraing Celebration Committee President Thoai Sui Khai Marma was attended by the Ambassador of the European Union and his wife and daughter, the Ambassador of Italy, the Ambassador and Duchess of the Netherlands, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Hill and Hill Tract Affairs Pradeep Kumar Mahatma, Joint Secretary Konkan Chakma, Vice Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Ripon Chakma, Chairman of the Rangamati Hill District Council Krishibid Kajal Talukder, Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Habib Ullah, Superintendent of Police Dr. SM Farhad Hossain, District BNP President Dipan Talukder Dipu and General Secretary Advocate Mamunur Rashid Mamun. Later, the chief guest, along with other guests, inaugurated the water festival by cutting the ribbon and sprinkling water. Although many Marma community members from Kaukhali, Kaptai and Rajasthali areas were unable to attend due to heavy rain since morning and obstruction by a regional political party in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, as soon as the rain stopped, the Chinghlamaung Chowdhury Mari Stadium in Rangamati was filled with thousands of men and women for the event.

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