According to Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser for the environment, forests, and climate change, the government is dedicated to protecting the rights of the Garo people in forest areas.
According to her, the government would take all necessary legal action to protect the rights of communities that depend on forests for access to land, water, and natural resources.
Speaking as the main guest at the Wangala Festival, which was held today at Banani Bidyaniketan School and College here, the environment adviser made the statement.
According to Rizwana, the government is attempting to settle disputes between the forest department and forest communities by making the required changes to social forestation laws.
The indigenous council has started working to establish the rights of the Garo people, she said adding that district administration has been asked to demarcate the boundaries of Modhupur Forest.
Forest dwellers will be included in local development initiatives, Rizwana said adding that the ministries of land and water resources would collaborate to prevent illegal extraction of sand and stone. Public participation is essential for effective forest conservation, she added.
Regarding the Garo celebration, the environmental advisor stated that Wangala is a distinctive representation of the cultural legacy of the Garo people.”The festival celebrates the harvest as a moment of gratitude to nature, highlighting the bond between nature and human society,” she said.
As the Garo community did, she advised everyone to preserve the environment and value natural resources.
During the ceremony, guests took in traditional Garo music and dance.The adviser also unveiled a special magazine published on the occasion.
Senior government officials, representatives from domestic and foreign organisations, cultural activists, students, and other Garo community members attended the event, which was chaired by Nokma Shimanto Chisim, the Dhaka Wangala 2024 chair.
Wangala is crucial to the preservation and promotion of the Garo community’s history and culture.
