Titled Abimaner Rasong, the pride of Modhupur, the album includes 13 songs composed, recorded and sung by the members of a family of Peergachha in Sholakori in Modhupur, Tangail.

Teeres Nokrek, a famous Ringiba or singer, had initiated the move, inspired the Mandi, a Garo community, and composed 11 songs for the album.

Madhuri Nokrek, his niece and a retired schoolteacher, takes part in the duets, while Pronathh Mree, her husband, composed two songs and conducted other necessary work. Najit Mree played traditional indigenous musical instruments.

The album was recorded at the teen-roofed thatched house of Madhuri using traditional musical instruments including Dama, drums, and Rang.

The family collected necessary fund for the album and released 50 copies at first. Forty of them have already been sold at Tk 50 each, while five have been sent to India.

The songs are the portrayal of beautiful landscape of the locality, love, patriotism and kindness.

Asong asong asong Angchingni (Country country country our Bangladesh), O Angni khabakni khabak namul (O my dear beloved, companion of my life) and Bilang na aaa pakmari (Do not wander before my eyes, go away) are the most famous songs.

The community is alarmingly losing its culture and language as books on Mandi language are not available in the country, said the family. Even many educated Garo people do not understand the true meanings of some of the expressions in the songs.

They also feel it necessary to establish a Mandi cultural centre to preserve the ancient cultural heritage and teach the next generations the ancestral concepts of rhythm of life.

"I will sing for my people as long as I am alive," said a determined Teeres, an enlisted singer of Bangladesh Betar, who dropped out at class X due to financial constraints.

"I get only Tk 715 for each recording at the radio station but it's not enough even for my transport cost," he added.

"Despite our repeated appeals, the rate was not increased resulting in apathy among promising Mandi singers."

Teeres also translated the popular Bangla song "Salam salam hajar salam" into Mandi and performed it in Channel i last year. He has so far composed at least 100 songs in Mandi.

"Though the recording is not of a standard quality, we tried to keep some documents of our own thoughts and works," said Pronathh Mree.

"There are artistes of great genius in this forest and the community will rise again with all its past glories if given proper attention."