The Grand finale of the three month-long 'Music Talent Hunt 2007', the first of its kind in Rangamati was held last weekend with much enthusiasm at the Rajbari Stadium in the hill town.

Major General Mohammed Abdul Mubin, GOC of 24 infantry division, Chittagong, was the chief guest and handed over the prizes to the top ten contestants.

Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati, Md. Nurul Amin; Sadar

Zone Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md. Razzak Sakib; director of Tribal Culture Institute (TCD, Sugata Chakma and coordinator of the talent hunt, Major Mashiur Rahman attended the prize giving programme.

Major General Mohammed Abdul Mubin in his speech said that such programmes can fortify amity among the people of different creed and ethnicity, living in CHT.

Aparna Dev Roy, the first prize winner, received a cheque of Tk 20,000 along with a crest and a

certificate.

Shekhar Mallik from Rajasthali and Kuei Chakma from Baghaichhari upazila won the first and second runner up respectively and received cheques ofTk 15,000 and 10,000 with crests and certificates.

The rest of the top ten contestants - UthingTing Marma, Shefali Akhter, Krinchna Lal Pankhua, Subhadra Tripura, Sanjoy Bonik, Pradip Kumar Mallik and Mithul Saha — received a cheque ofTk3,000 each with crests and certificates.

The top contestants rendered songs at the finale.

Some 42 competitors from ten upazilas and from municipal areas of the district took part in the 'Music Talent Hunt 2007' that started on September 18, with the slogan "Sangeet Hok Shampritir Shetubandhan”.

The Rangamati brigade took the initiative to hold the programme.

Rangamati Hill District Council, CHT Development Board, TCI, Rangamati Municipality, district and police administration sup-2 ported the programme.

Higiilight of the finale included . performances by Close up 1 stars — ' Nishitha Barua, Keya, Mehrab and Mahadi.