Pawmum Parbon 2025 cultural festival featuring Mro community at AFD 17-24 Dec

Pwmum Parbon 2025

Pawmum Parbon 2025, a weeklong cultural festival featuring Mro children and community members from Lama, Bandarban, will take place at Alliance Française de Dhaka from 17–24 December 2025. The festival aims to present Mro language, art, music, and heritage to the wider public, while offering a platform for indigenous children to showcase their creative work in the capital for the first time.

Pawmum Tharkla, a community-led school in Lama established over ten years ago, has been working to preserve Mro language, cultural practices, and early childhood education. For many of the children participating in the festival, this marks their first journey outside the hills.

Shohoz has joined as the Official Travel Partner, ensuring safe transportation for 40 Mro children and community members from Lama to Dhaka and back. Additional partners supporting the event include Prachyanat Theatre (Theatre Partner), Together for Bangladesh (Event Management & Volunteer Partner), ZhirZhir Pvt. Ltd. (Concert Support Partner), Graam Cha Initiative (Food Partner) and Cartoon People (Exhibition & Decoration Partner). Alliance Française de Dhaka is hosting the festival as the Venue & Logistics Partner.

The festival will feature children’s artwork, bamboo crafts, photography, weaving demonstrations, short films, and live performances including Mro dance, songs, and the traditional Plung flute. Workshops, guided tours, and community dialogues will also be held throughout the week.

Mr. Shahariar Parvez, Co-founder of Pawmum Tharkla, said:

“Our school began in a small bamboo hut with only a few children. For over a decade, we have worked to protect their language and identity through education. ‘Pawmum Parbon 2025’ is an opportunity for these children to be seen and heard beyond the hills, and we are grateful to all partners who made this journey possible.”

The organizers noted that the event has been arranged without major corporate sponsorship and is largely supported by volunteers, partner organizations, and individual well-wishers who believe in promoting cultural diversity and indigenous rights.

The festival is open to the public. Visitors are invited to attend the exhibitions, interact with the children and community members, and experience the cultural expressions of the Mro people.

Opening: 17 December 2025, 3.00 PM

Date: 17-24 December 2025

Visiting hours:  Everyday 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Sunday Closed)

Venue: La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka