The Aunla Band to host first-ever “Aunla Festival” in Cox’s Bazar on December 12 to celebrate Chattogram’s musical and cultural heritage, said the band members.
Tanbirul Miraj Ripon, the band’s External Relations and Policy Manager, announced on Tuesday at a press conference held at the Cox’s Bazar Central Shaheed Minar.
The festival will take place at Shaheed Daulat Maidan of Cox’s Bazar Public Library, starting at 6:00 pm, he said.
In a written statement, Ripon said that Aunla is an ancient musical genre of Chattogram, regarded as one of the earliest sources of music in the region.
‘For many years, this genre was no longer practiced and was on the verge of extinction. That is why we named our band ‘Aunla’ and have been working to revive songs rooted in Chattogram’s language and the diverse cultures of its ethnic communities,’ he added.
The band has successfully brought Aunla music back into active practice, he added, noting that they believe celebrating the ancestors’ cultural heritage is a vibrant and powerful tradition.
‘Through music, we aim to promote peace and coexistence. Our slogan is, ‘This time, Aunla is not just local; this time, Aunla is global,’ he added.
The initiative also seeks to introduce this cultural legacy to the younger generation and ensure continuity of Chattogram’s musical traditions.
Aunla Band is the primary organizer of the festival, with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs serving as a co-partner.
By presenting Chattogram-language songs in a contemporary format and bringing them back into the mainstream, Aunla Band has already gained popularity among young audiences.
The organizers expressed hope that the festival will joyfully celebrate the coexistence of Chattogram’s diverse cultures, ethnic groups, and profession-based musical traditions.
The festival was initially crowdfunded to ensure local participation and a sense of collective ownership. Later, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs joined the initiative by providing logistical and program design support.
Performances at the festival will feature inclusive songs by local fishermen, members of the Rakhine and Marma communities, and Aunla Band itself.
The organizers expect more than 2,000 attendees, including youth, older adults, and local and international professionals from various development organizations.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs is closely monitoring the program’s overall organization, the organizers said.
“As young cultural activists, we believe we are all part of one extended family,” Ripon added.
Music and Logistics Manager, Md. Absar, media team members Abdu Rashid Manik and Afifa Yaser Ulfa, finance team members Jafrul Hasnat Raja and Salahuddin, and Aunla Band member Soni Sharma were also present at the press conference.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
