A three-day Harmony Festival showcasing the rich cultural heritage of ethnic communities began in Sreemangal today, aiming to promote sustainable cultural tourism, community-based tourism and local economic development.

The colourful festival, featuring traditional food, handicrafts, lifestyle exhibits and cultural performances of ethnic communities, was inaugurated at the Fulchhara Tea Garden grounds in Sreemangal by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam.

Speaking as the chief guest, the minister said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is working to advance the country’s tourism sector through employment generation and the promotion of ethnic tourism.

“We are formulating plans to develop ethnic tourism and create employment opportunities in the tourism sector,” she said.

Responding to demands from local communities, the minister said the government would work towards establishing an Ethnic Cultural Academy to preserve and promote indigenous cultural heritage.

She also announced plans to expand Sylhet Airport to attract more foreign tourists, saying the government aims to showcase Sylhet as a premier tourism destination on the global stage.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat said the government’s election manifesto places special emphasis on balanced regional development through community-based tourism, ethnic tourism and water tourism.

He said the Bangladesh Tourism Board organised the Harmony Festival to revive and sustainably preserve the diverse and endangered cultural traditions of small ethnic communities.

“The diverse culture and lifestyle of ethnic communities are among the key attractions for tourists from around the world,” he said.

The state minister expressed hope that the festival would help introduce the unique traditions, customs and products of ethnic communities to both domestic and international visitors while contributing to sustainable tourism development.

Among others, Moulvibazar-3 lawmaker M. Naser Rahman, Moulvibazar-4 lawmaker Md. Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Fahmida Akhtar and senior local administration officials attended the inaugural ceremony.

Harmony Festival Season-2 features 27 stalls representing ethnic communities, displaying locally produced goods, traditional foods, clothing, ornaments, hunting tools and other cultural artifacts.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience traditional dances, songs, religious rituals and various cultural practices of the participating communities.

Officials said the festival is expected to strengthen community-based tourism in Sreemangal and surrounding areas, enhance the economic capacity of ethnic communities and contribute to the growth of Bangladesh’s tourism industry.

They noted that a community-based tourism initiative run by the Manipuri community has already been operating successfully in the region.

As part of its tourism product development and promotional strategy, the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) plans to organise the Harmony Festival annually in Sreemangal on a fixed date, enabling tour operators to develop inbound tourism packages and allowing foreign tourists to plan their visits in advance.

The BTB Officials believed the initiative will play a significant role in promoting sustainable cultural development and expanding cultural tourism in Bangladesh.