Mirza Hridoy Sagar, from Netrakona

Ahead of the Bengali New Year (Pohela Boishakh), a village discussion on “Agroecology and Rural Culture” was organized by the Kailati Nabojatra Farmers’ Organization and the Netrokona Green Coalition team, with the support BARCIK, at Kailati Union in Netrokona Sadar Upazila.

Assistant Professor Nazmul Kabir Sarkar, President of the Committee for Education, Culture, Environment, and Diversity Protection; writer and researcher Sohrab Uddin Akand; engineer Rodousi Chakraborty; sub-assistant agriculture officer Tamanna Akter; livestock officer Tarek Al Hasan; journalists Mirza Hridoy Sagar and Tanvir Hayat Khan; BARCIK’s regional coordinator Md. Ohidur Rahman; associate coordinator Shankar Mrong; engineer Rodousi Bhattacharya; members of the farmers’ organization; youth; and over a hundred local men, women, and children attended at the discussion.

The event was presided over by Mr. Nurul Islam, President of Nabojatra Farmers’ Organization.

In his keynote speech, Nazmul Kabir Sarkar said, “Farmers and agriculture play a vital role in preserving rural cultural heritage. Initiatives are needed to promote and spread rural culture. Traditional events and festivals must be organized. Initiative should be taken to preserve traditional sports and culture. This will help us retain our heritage and identity.’ He went on saying, ‘Many elements of rural culture are no longer visible as before. Games such as Kanamachi Bou Bou, Gollachut, Gudula, Bouchi, Kutkut, Dariabandha, Danguli, Marble, Ha-du-du, Kabaddi, Cockfighting, Bullfighting, Harivanga, Hide and Seek, Rope Jumping, Ekka-Dokka, Agdum-Bagdum are fading away among children and adolescents.”

Farmer Enamul Haque said, “Due to modernization, rural lifestyles have changed significantly. People no longer want to live in villages; they prefer city life. As a result, rural culture is not expanding.’ He further said, with improved education and economic development, living standards are improving, but our interest in traditional rural games and entertainment is declining. People now prefer modern forms of entertainment and sports. People are now more engaged with mobile phones, TV, the internet, and modern culture, leading to a loss of interest in traditional rural culture.’ He went on saying, ‘To grow interest among people with Pohela Boishakh approaching, we’ve organized a rural sports event and a traditional Luth Pitha festival unique to the Netrokona region. A giant Luth Pitha weighing one mon (approx. 40 kg) was made.”

At the end of the event, everyone was served Luth Pitha, and prizes were distributed among the participants of the sports activities.