It is a centre also for religious and educational activities of Garos, Banai, Koch and Hajong tribes. But there has not been any response from the government for its development despite repeated appeals, officials of the academy told this correspondent during a recent visit.

Birishiri is 30 km from Netrakona. There is a large indigenous population in Durgapur and Kalmakanda upazilas in Netrakona district; Dhubaura, Haluaghat and Fulbaria upazilas in Mymensingh; Modhupur and Ghatail upazilas in Tangail; Nalithabari, Jinaigathi and Shreebardi upazilas in Sherpur district.

The two storied academy building was set up in 1977 on a three acre land to promote cultural, educational and other activities of indigenous people.

Sreejon Sangma, Research Officer at the Academy, told this correspondent that the objects are piled up here and there for lack of space. He said a museum is needed to keep the old artifacts representing distinctive culture of different tribes.

There is also a library, but it has a very poor collection of books.

The academy's director Mosharaf Karim said fund crisis hits cultural activities of the academy. The government gives Tk 28,75000 a year to the academy, of which 17,75000 is spent for staff salary of employees and artistes. The remaining amount (Tk 11,00,000) is too poor for routine programmes and cultural activities in a year, he said.

All development work by the academy is stopped for long for fund crisis. Mosharaf said the government was urged on many occasions to grant funds for development work, but to no effect.

The academy runs a three-year course for training on traditional tribal dance, song, drama and other cultural activities. Twenty students are enrolled every session.

But staff shortage hampers the performance. Though there are three posts of Deputy Director, none has been appointed to those. Only one post of Assistant Director has been filled up.

The posts of a Curator and an Engineer are vacant for long, said Assistant Director Uttam Richil.