A five-day photo exhibition titled 'Save the Biodiversity of Hill Tracts' will be held in Khagrachhari to raise awareness about protecting the forests, wildlife and nature of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It will begin on Saturday at the Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institute in Khagrachhari and run until Wednesday, open to visitors every day from 11am to 5pm.

The exhibition, which opens on Saturday, features 51 pictures taken by two photographers from the hill district of Khagrachhari, engineer Sabuj Chakma and journalist Samir Mallik.

Pictures of several rare birds and wild animals will be shown during the five days. Photographer and engineer Sabuj Chakma said visitors will be able to learn about the rich nature and wildlife of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and many pictures taken in the three hill districts will be shown to the public for the first time.

Photographer Samir Mallik said: "If nature survives, people will survive. Birds and wildlife are key parts of nature. As forest cover shrinks, bird habitats are being destroyed, and many birds are no longer seen. Hornbills once roamed the hills but are now almost endangered. Many wild animals, including elephants, are on the path to extinction. An exhibition like this will raise awareness among people about protecting birds and wildlife."

Jiten Chakma, deputy director of the Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institute, said: "The photo exhibition will feature pictures of various species of birds, wildlife and landscapes taken in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban. Such exhibitions satisfy visitors' artistic appetite and at the same time build awareness about protecting life and nature."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.