A letter festival titled "Chithi Utsob" was held at Comilla University and Comilla Victoria Government College, offering visitors an opportunity to share thoughts, revisit cherished memories and express unspoken feelings through handwritten letters.
Organised by the Cumilla Postal Division with support from Meghna Group of Industries (MGI), the festival took place at Comilla University on Sunday (11 October) and Comilla Victoria Government College yesterday (13 October), according to the press release.
The festival marked World Post Day under the theme "Integrated Postal Network, Limitless Opportunities" and aimed to introduce younger generations to handwritten correspondence in an era dominated by digital communication.
Mohammad Tariqul Islam, deputy postmaster general of the Cumilla Postal Division, said the initiative sought to familiarise young people with letter writing while introducing them to modern postal services, including Speed Post and parcel delivery.
One of the main attractions was the opportunity to write letters by hand and send them to loved ones through a special, low-cost postal service. Visitors wrote to family members, friends and others close to them.
Their letters carried messages of love, gratitude and affection, including feelings they had been unable to express for a long time. Stepping away from instant digital messages and putting their thoughts on paper offered students a different way to communicate and connect.
Jesmin Noor, a Comilla University student who visited the festival, described it as an opportunity to rediscover an old tradition.
"There was a time when people waited for days for the postman to bring news from loved ones living far away. Opening an envelope to see familiar handwriting, reading words that had been waiting to be shared and looking forward to a reply all brought a special kind of joy. In the age of mobile phones and instant messaging, much of that anticipation has faded. Writing a letter by hand brought back memories of the emotions and personal connections associated with the tradition," she said.
The festival also provided an occasion to express personal memories and heartfelt emotions.
Sumaiya Islam, a student of Cumilla Cantonment College, wrote a letter in memory of her late grandfather.
Meanwhile, an official of Comilla University used the opportunity to express gratitude and affection for his wife through a letter, putting into words feelings he had struggled to convey during their 23 years of marriage.
"We have been married for so many years, and I had been thinking about telling my wife how grateful I am to her. I could never quite find the words to say it. Today, at this Chithi Utsob (Letter Festival), I was finally able to put my feelings into a letter to her," he said.
For many participants, writing letters became a way to revisit memories of loved ones who had died or express emotions they had kept to themselves for years. They thanked the organisers for creating an opportunity to reconnect with handwritten correspondence.
Alongside letter writing, the festival featured a special postage stamp exhibition and several service stalls.
Rare and commemorative stamps in denominations of Tk1, Tk2, Tk3, Tk4, Tk5, Tk10 and Tk20 were displayed, giving students an opportunity to learn about the history of postage stamps and stamp collecting.
Visitors also received information about the postal department's domestic and international mail services, registered mail, Speed Post, parcel delivery, savings certificates and Nagad, a digital financial service.
These activities introduced participants to both the traditional and modern services offered by the postal department.
MGI, Fresh Stationery and Fresh Coffee supported the initiative. Fresh Stationery provided writing materials, while Fresh Coffee offered complimentary coffee to students and visitors attending the festival.