Chakma women in Tripura preserve traditional weavering techniques

via ANI News on November 18, 2014

Tripura: The north east region is home to a large number of tribes, each with their distinct dressing style. A group of women from Chakma tribe are working in Tripura to preserve their traditional weaving practice using loin looms.

The Chakma tribe is one of the nineteen tribes of Tripura that can be identified by their unique dress patterns.

Traditionally, women folk used to make their own clothes at home using loin loom.

However, weaving on loin loom and the traditional art is gradually losing ground.

Smriti Rekha Chakma, a resident of 79 Tilla in West Tripura, is running a training centre in her backyard to teach the indigenous methods of making clothes using loin loom.

"Last year, I had gone to Yangoon (Myanmar), where my designs were very much appreciated. People were very happy and really astonished to see that I have such a variety of designs," said Smriti.

Smriti was awarded with the National Award for Excellence in the shawl weaving category in 2000. Four of her students have also received similar awards.

Her products have been getting a good response, especially outside the state, due to the unique patterns and designs.

People of different age groups come to Smriti to learn the art.

Decency Chakma, a student of textile designing at Hyderabad's National Institute of Designing, is one of the few trainees learning the intrinsic Chakma designs.

She hopes to open her own outlet in the future and incorporate the traditional designs in her work.

"After learning this art I plan to open my own studio where I can use these designs by modifying them and then bring it into the market so that more people can know about this," she said.

Pramita Chakma, a weaver, said that nowadays not many people are interested in learning this art.

"But we are trying hard to encourage people to learn this. We bring people who have been doing this weaving and train them. We are also teaching a small girl," she said.

The north-east region has a rich heritage of handloom work that needs to be preserved. (ANI)

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Arunachal govt offers Rs 250 as compensation to the flood affected Chakma families

via Arunachal Chakma Times on November 11, 2014

Diyun: The Chakma flood affected families of Dumpani, Dumpather, Udaipur and Upper and Lower Mudoidweep were directed to collect Flood Relief Amount from the Extra Assistant Commissioner’s office vide Memo No. DYN/GA(R/R)-06/2006/583-89 on 28/10/2014.

Upon approaching the office, it was reportedly learnt that the amount offered as Flood Relief was meager Rs. 250. The irony is that the flood affected people had spent more than Rs. 250 (the amount offered as Flood Relief while applying for flood relief in preparing reports and compiling photo evidence in support of their claim.

Mention should be made about the four families of Gobinda Lal Chakma, Krishna Kumar Chakma, Sashi Bindu Chakma and Sneha Ranjan Chakma of Dumpani, the worst victims of the August flood who became homeless and landless as the Nao-Dihing took away their allotted land.

The devastating flood of August took away hectares of fertile cultivable land, ripen/standing crop fields, plantation, fish ponds and dwelling houses. The victims have prayed for the resettlement of the landless, special permit for the victims for six months from the Fair Price Shop and considerable amount of compensation to re-shape their lives which appear to have fallen into deaf ears.

            The villagers have reportedly refused to accept Rs. 250 as compensation on the ground that it is insufficiently inadequate and decided to re-apply for a considerable amount from the appropriate authorities.

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Supradip Chakma new Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico

via BSS on November 3, 2014

Supradip Chakma

Dhaka: The Government has decided to appoint Supradip Chakma, currently serving as Bangladesh Ambassador to Vietnam, as the new Ambassador of Bangladesh to Mexico.

A government press release said on Monday.

Supradip Chakma a career diplomat belongs to the 1985 batch of BCS (Foreign Affairs) Cadre. Previously he served in Bangladesh Embassies in Rabat, Brussels, Ankara and  Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo in various capacities.

Mr. Chakma studied Marketing at the University of Dhaka.

He attended a number of overseas training programmes including French Language and Diplomatic Training Programme at the Institute International d’Administration Public (IIAP), Paris and Course on Security Affairs at Asia and Pacific Centre for Security Studies (APCSS), Hawaii.

Mr. Supradip is married and blessed with two children.

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