17 February 2003 Daily Star

'Rajpunnah' festival begins

BSS, Rangamati


A three-day traditional 'Rajpunnah' festival began on the Rajbari premises here yesterday to celebrate the silver jubilee of the coronation of the Chakma circle chief Raja Devashish Roy.

At the festival, the Chakma Raja received taxes from the headmen of his 171 moujas yesterday. Kumar Tribhuban Arjadev Roy, the only son of the Raja, was also introduced as the Crown Prince through the coronation function.


Later, the Chakma Raja made an appeal to all to help restore peace in the hill region.


Peace didn't return to hill region though the peace accord was signed in 1997, he said. But, he admitted some development in health and education sectors in the area.


Chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Joytirindrio Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma, Deputy Minister for CHT Affairs Moni Swapan Dewan, Chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council Dr. Manik Lal Dewan and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Zafar Ahmed Khan attended the function.