Traditional games, colourful cultural performances by different ethnic communities, theatre and folk music marked the Forest and Life Festival 2026, held in Pitaschhara of Matiranga upazila in Khagrachhari.

The daylong festival, organised by the Pitaschhara Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative, brought together hundreds of nature enthusiasts, environmental activists and representatives of different communities to celebrate nature, biodiversity and local cultural heritage.

The programme also featured discussions on forest and wildlife conservation, alongside the presentation of environmental awards to three individuals and organisations for their contributions to conservation efforts.

The festival was inaugurated at 2pm at the playground of Khedachhara Government Primary School in Purba Khedachhara. Khagrachhari lawmaker Wadud Bhuiyan attended as the chief guest, while Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Jaber and BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh were present as special guests.

The first session featured traditional games from 2pm to 3pm, including Ghila, bamboo games and pot-breaking competitions. The games drew enthusiastic participation and offered visitors a glimpse of the traditional recreational practices of local communities.
From 3pm to 5pm, cultural groups representing different ethnic communities performed traditional music and dance, creating a festive atmosphere.

An evening discussion session and award ceremony brought together conservationists, academics, cultural activists and government representatives.

The discussion was chaired by Mahfuz Ahmed Russell, founder and executive director of the Pitaschhara Foundation. Participants included Dr Zinat Mahrook Banu, former head of the Anthropology and Decorative Arts Department at Bangladesh National Museum; Dr Md Anwarul Islam, chief executive and co-founder of WildTeam and former professor at Dhaka University; Ngyohla Mong, director of Khagrachhari Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institute; and Md Abdul Awal Sarker, forest conservator of Rangamati.

Three recipients were honoured with the Pitaschhara Environmental Awards 2026 in recognition of their contributions to conservation.

Sohel Shyam, an environmental activist from Sreemangal and founder of Stand for Our Endangered Wildlife (SEW), received the Biodiversity Conservation Award.

Harirampur Shyamol Nisorgo, a voluntary organisation from Manikganj involved in tree plantation, plastic pollution prevention and biodiversity conservation, received the Nature and Environmental Conservation Award.

Teacher and environmental activist Ritu Parvi, whose academic name is Parveen Akhtar, received the Environment-friendly Social Initiative Award for her work on tree plantation, biodiversity protection and community-based conservation.

Following the discussion and award ceremony, the festival moved into its cultural segment with the staging of a play titled Searching for the Forest.

The Pitaschhara Cultural Group and Chattogram-based musical group Agnibina then performed for the audience. The day’s celebrations concluded with a folk music performance by artist Baga Taleb.

Speaking to TBS, Mahfuz Ahmed Russell said the festival was organised to highlight the relationship between people, forests, wildlife and nature while celebrating the cultural traditions of local communities.

He said the initiative also sought to bring government and private organisations, policymakers and conservation activists together to exchange ideas and develop joint efforts to protect nature.
The Business Standard (TBS) and TBS Graduates were media partners of the festival.

Pitaschhara Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Initiative covers 75 acres in the eastern hills and is home to around 150 bird species, 27 species of snakes and 20 species of frogs and turtles. The forest also provides habitat for slow lorises, pangolins and fishing cats.

The initiative has developed a nursery with 6,000 native trees, alongside a medical centre, library and cultural centre.