BITA E-News Letter

January - April 2017

11 th Issue

It’s our pleasure to inform you that BITA E News letter

has been publishing for last four years where your

warm attention given us inspirations. In this period it

is our 11th publication which is sending to you

focusing of major interventions. This year we have

started some of significant project intervention that

reflected into the current publication. There are news

of World Theatre Day 2017 observation, Induction

workshop of Urban Slum Children Education” program

under ROSC phase-II, Regional level Round Table

Meeting on Social Accountability, Mass awareness

Theatre Campaign on reduction of irregular migration

by sea routes in Bangladesh etc.

We are always waits to get your new ideas and

creative thought which could be accommodate; so

please email us at: bitactg@gmail.com.

Sisir Dutta

Executive Director

This Issue

Induction workshop of “Urban Slum Children Education” program under ROSC phase-II

Regional level Round Table Meeting on Social Accountability

International Women day observation

Increasing of Livelihood capacity and creating of employability of rural youth

“Theatre Always Represent of Time”, BITA observes World Theatre Day 2017

Mass awareness through Theatre Campaign supports contribute to the reduction of irregular migration by sea routes in Bangladesh

BITA organized an Age Inclusion disaster Risk Reduction Fair at Coastal area of Lakshmipur District.

SBK (Shishu Bikash kandra) is the space of increasing Children Creativity

Message from Executive Director

mailto:bitactg@gmail.com

Induction workshop of “Urban Slum

Children Education”

program under ROSC phase-II

The government of Bangladesh is determined to provide primary education for all children. As many disadvantaged students discontinue going to school due to extreme poverty or other complex reasons, Bureau of Primary Education under the ministry of Primary and Mass Education, has undertaken the “Urban Slum Children Education” program under Reaching Out- of- School Children II (ROSC II) project alongside the mainstream education system to create second chance of primary education for the disadvantaged and slum dwelling dropouts in the slums of 11 City Corporations. Implementation of this program has already started in different slums of Chittagong City Corporation by BITA as implementing organization with technical support from Save the Children International. An induction workshop of this program was arranged on 23 April, 2017 at 11:00 am at K B Abdus Sattar auditorium of Chittagong City Corporation. A J M Nasir Uddin, honorable Mayor, Chittagong City Corporation, graced the occasion as the chief guest while Dr. M. Mizanur Rahman, Additional Secretary, (ministry of Primary and Mass Education) Project Director, ROSC phase-II, presided over the workshop. The special guests were Mr. Md. Nuruzzaman Mollick, Deputy Project Director of ROSC Phase –II of Bureau of Primary Education, Mr Md. Maksudur Rahman Shikdar, ADC (General), Chittagong, Mrs. Nazia Shirin, Chief Education Officer, Chittagong City Corporation, Nasrin Sultana, DPEO, Chittagong, Frederic Chirtopher, Director, Child Poverty sector, Save the Children International, and Mr. Sisir Dutta, Executive Director, BITA.

While discussing, Sisir Dutta, Executive Director, BITA, said, “Bangladesh is set to be a middle income country. Honorable Prime Minister has taken various noble and pragmatic steps to revolutionize the education system and to make education accessible to all. BITA has been nominated to work in Chittagong as a part of a massive program aiming to reintegrate 50,000 out-of-school children into education across the country. We are to enroll 6,000 dropouts of 20 wards in Chittagong.”

The chief guest honorable Mayor A J M Nasir Uddin praised this noble initiative which aims to create second chance of getting educated for the impoverished dropouts of the slums and said, “The present government has put a lot of emphasis on children’s education. We undertake a lot of programs. But we need to finish them minutely and thoroughly. I thank you all for allowing Chittagong City Corporation to play a significant role in this noble cause.”

While presiding over the workshop, Dr. M. Mizanur Rahman, Project Director, ROSC phase-II, said that it was important to bring back the dropouts of the slums to school again. He hoped that Chittagong City Corporation would provide an all out support in this regard. He reminded all that government of Bangladesh had received a loan from the World Bank to finance this program. He requested all concerned to make sure the proper utilization of the money and the right selection of the dropouts.

Enhanced involvement of people in development efforts would bring accountability in order to bring better and sustained development results. Practice of accountability ensures effective utilization of public resources and opportunities. Emphasizing the necessity of citizen involvement in local governance and development, the speakers made these deliberations. The round table was jointly organized by BITA and Suprobhat Bangladesh under the purview of Social Engagement for Budgetary Accountability (SEBA) project in support with Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) on 29 March 2017 at Suprobhat Studio Hall in Chittagong city. It’s mention-worthy that a full-page supplement was published in The Suprobhat Bangladesh on 30 March 2017 covering key discussions of the round table.

The honorable Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Md Shamsul Arefin was present as chief guest in the event chaired by Kamrul Hasan Badal, Associate Editor of Suprobhat Bangladesh and moderated by BITA’s Executive Director Sisir Dutta. The chief guest said, “Union parishad is the basic unit of local government. Strengthening local government is closely related with strengthening union parishads.” The honorable discussants include Md Khorshed Alam, Deputy Director, Local Government – Chittagong; Md Mokhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director, Department Youth Directorate, Chittagong; Reaz Haider Chowdhury, President, Chittagong Union of Journalists; Md Anamul Hoque Khondaker, DF, LGSP- Chittagong. Technical Officer of BITA_SEBA project Lipi Mazumder shared the progress and successes of SEBA project highlighting the effectiveness of Social Accountability Mechanisms. Representative of MJF Asma Khanom conveyed thanks to all for their valuable participation and contribution.

Among others, UP chairmen M A Hashem, Ashiya; Muhammad Bakhtiar, Bhatikhain; Saroj Kanti Sen (Nantu), Kelishahar; S M Inzamul Hoque Jasim, Kachaui; Female UP members Ratna Chowdhury, Kasiaish, and Ferdous Begum, Baralia; Md Jamal Uddin, UP secretary of Kasiaish; Mohammdul Hoque Master, convenor of Haidgaon Community Support Group and Social Audit Committee; took part in discussions.

In brief, opinions & recommendations derived through community score card and

social audit process could be stated as : Formulate separately annual plan of Union

Parishad (UP) based on the basis of five-year plan, Formation of WC and SSC

through people’s participation, Arrange orientation for WC & SSC, Actively engage

WC & SSC members to implement and supervise of development schemes, Ensure

tax collection, Organize tax fair, Organize open budget meeting through prior

publicity, Widely publicize of ward shava, Undertake project in all 8 sectors through

LGSP schemes, Assess social and environmental negative impacts properly and take

mitigation measures accordingly, Encourage people to support in maintenance after

scheme implementation, Regularly organize UPs’ standing committees’ meeting and

Enhance effectiveness of Union Development Coordination Committee (UDCC)

Regional level Round Table

Meeting on Social Accountability

Enhanced involvement of

people in development

efforts boosts accountability

for better and sustained

development results

BITA observe the day both in its’ working areas and

participated with Government program jointly.

Under the BITA project of LRP-41 there are some

program events happened participating of around

700 children, adolescent, youth, parents, teachers

and community influential. The program is designed

with implementing of signature campaign. The

community youths committed to closely observe for

completely stop of child marriage. The campaign

program organized for 3 days from 5 March to 8

March 2017 in working area at Paschim Madarbari

under 29 no Chittagong City Corporation ward.

As well as Observing of International Women day,

government bodies have also organized some of

events on 5 March and 8 March 2017. On 5 March a

human chain and a discussion session held

facilitating jointly by Local administration and

Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. There are

about 25 non-government organizations are

participated into the event. From BITA 20 members

from Women Circle and Youth groups under LRP-41

project, funded by ActionAid Bangladesh

participated in the event.

Moreover another event is held on 8 March 2017 at

Chittagong Shishu Academy premises. In the

discussion session the contents are discussed on

increasing of women participations, Government

positive intention to make nondiscriminatory

working attitude in every sectors and increasing

productivity of women and young girls could support

to GDP. As chief guest Md. Doulutuzzaman Khan,

Deputy Commissioner (action), Chittagong District

said that there are some initiatives in institutional

level to improve the conditions but we have to work

more in family and community level. Md. Masukur

Rahaman Sikdar, additional Deputy Commissioner,

Chittagong District, presides the meeting. In cultural

performance BITA community youth team presented

a few of inspiring songs of community motivation.

There are about 450 audience attended into the

event.

International Women day

observation

Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROSC)-II is a project of Primary Education Department under Ministry of Primary and

Mass Education of Bangladesh. The objective of the project is to capacitate of livelihood based vocational skills and

creating of employment of youth who are age of 15 or more are minimum of completed class 5 grade education will be

participated in Pre vocational Skills Development Program. As development partner, BITA is working with the project

covering 3 districts of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban. The working Upazila under the districts are Banshkhali in

Chittagong, Teknaf, Ukhiya and Maheskhali in Cox’s Bazar and Lama in Bandarban. There held 3 of induction workshop

in 3 of upazila where 24 April 2017 at Lama and 25 April 2017 at both Teknaf and Ukhiya.

The induction workshop of Lama was held at the Upazila Parishad Hall room

where Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Project Director, ROSC-II attended as Chief Guest

and Ms khinyan Nu, the Upazilla Nirbahi Officer of Lama presided over the

meeting. Another induction workshop of Teknaf was held at the Upazila

Parishad Hall room where ROSC-II Deputy Project Director, Nuruzzaman Mallik

has given speech and Md. Nurul Absar, Upazila Academic Supervisor (Secondary

Education) of Teknaf presides the meeting. At the same day, an induction

workshop also held at the Ukhiya Officers Club Hall room where from ROSC-II,

Deputy Project Director, Md. Sahadat Hossain has given his speech as chief

guest and Md. Mainuddin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Ukhiya presides the

meeting.

In the induction workshops, ROSC-II project management, Save the Children

International representatives, Upazila level Government officials, local

government actors and BITA management were present. This is mentioned that

Save the Children International is working with the project as specialized

organization to assisting of implementing partners. The major pre-vocational

training trades mobile phone servicing, beauty care, refrigeration and air

conditioning, art and craft and motor cycle servicing are introduced with the

trainees.

Increasing of

Livelihood

capacity and

creating of

employability of

rural youth

“Theatre always represent of time. Theatre plays important role in every vital moments for the country, it’s’

struggle and peace in time. So it is Government responsibility to create the most favorable environment of

practice and innovation for theatre practitioners”.

The speech dialogue was given by the Ekushey Prize winner

Osttad Azizul Islam. He was present in the World Theatre Day

Observation program of BITA on 27 March 2017 as inaugurator.

Observing the day BITA organize a colorful event at BCCT (BITA

Culture and Communication Trust) Patiya, Chittagong,

Bangladesh. The event organized with design of colorful rally,

Instrumental playing of Dhol, Puppet presentation, development

theatre and indigenous theatre performance by Jhumful Theatre

group of Rangamati. As chief guest director of Alliance Françoise

de Chittagong Mr. Raphael Jaeger attended.

The introduction speech and world theatre day message 2017 was delivered by Mr. Sisir Dutta, the executive

director of BITA. There are good amount of grassroots cultural artists, theatre activists and villagers attended into

the program from early evening to at 9 p.m. Famous Flute player, Osttad Azizul Islam also respected by taking of

souvenir for winning of Ekushey Prize 2016 for his cultural contribution in Bangladesh.

“Theatre Always

Represent of

Time”, BITA

observes World

Theatre Day

2017

BITA organized an Age Inclusion disaster Risk Reduction Fair at Coastal

area of Lakshmipur District.

BITA organized an age inclusion

disaster risk reduction fair at Barokheri

Union Parishad premises in Ramgoti

Upazila under Lakshmipur district on

22 March 2017. The main objective of

the event is to increasing 2627 older

people’s ability of reducing disaster

into family level action. The event is

designed consisting of presentation of

installations, stall presentation and

discussion session. The visual

presentations are focused of the

contents of CDMC intervention and

initiatives, family based action plan of

facing disaster, warning signal,

volunteers’ initiatives during disaster,

livelihood product for older people

survival, area of capacity development,

role of Union Parishad and reserve

food arrangement during disaster time.

In discussion session the U.P Chairman

of Barokheri Union, ward members,

CDMC members of Barokheri and Char

Algi and local community people of

both constitutions are attended the

fair. More over BITA grass root theatre

group present the theatre show

“Meghna River”. A total of 698

audience participated in the events.

BITA is implementing the IDR project in

costal district of Lakshmipur by the

support of HelpAge International.

In the year of 2015 the country has experienced the Andaman Sea Crisis,

which has brought thousands of Bangladeshi and Myanmar nationals

attempting to migrate via irregular channels mainly towards Malaysia,

subsequently falling into the hands of people - smugglers or traffickers.

Considering the situation, IOM has initiated awareness programme, named

“Reducing Irregular Migration by Sea through Awareness Raising in Four

Districts of Bangladesh” that will cover the irregular migration of Bangladeshis

and Rohingya using sea routes out of the South East of the country. As a

resource organization, BITA involved significantly to creating mass awareness

& sensitization about the importance, process and audience through

theatrical performance that helped the people to aware on contribute to the

reduction of irregular migration by sea routes. In 2017, BITA theatre team

performed 52 Theatre campaign shows in two of districts in Cox’s Bazar and

Narshingdi to make aware of about the dangers of irregular migration by sea

and aware on the process of Govt. initiatives for safe migration etc. The

duration of the theatre performance is about 1 hour where 40 minutes for

performance and rest 20 minutes for audience interaction. By the shows, a

total of 20,280 audience are reached directly.

Mass awareness

through Theatre

Campaign

supports

contribute to the

reduction of

irregular

migration by sea

routes in

Bangladesh

The UNCRC (United Nation Convention of Child

Rights) explained that every child has rights of

develop under the article 1, section 6. There

are huge among of Children in our country who

are not enjoying their rights. By the support of

Action Aid Bangladesh BITA implementing a

project in Chittagong City Corporation where

facilitating a Child Space is one of the unique

interventions of the project. The objective of

the intervention is to increasing of Children

creativity and developing of self confident

where they will be involved with

mainstreaming. This year a group of children of

Children Space attended different of cultural

competitions in Bangla happy New Year events,

events organized by District Shishu Academy.

From BITA a total of 40 children are attended

different of cultural competitions such as

dance, drawing, acting recitation etc. From

them 20 children are achieved various prizes.

Of the Children, Chumki Akhter is one of the

prize winner said that her participation made

her more confident for the future. She said that

children should be more involved with such

kinds of interventions.

SBK (Shishu Bikash

kandra) is the space

of increasing Children

Creativity

Breaking the glass ceiling on women’s migration in Patiya, Chittagong.

Patiya is one of the more prosperous sub-districts of Bangladesh, with less than 15 per cent of the population living in poverty. However, literacy levels continue to remain generally low, especially among women. Patriarchal social norms limit women’s activities to within the household, hindering their social and economic empowerment. As a result, Patiya has seen almost no international migration of women workers.

The SMBW project promotes safe migration and acknowledges that restraining women’s migration deprives Bangladesh of a significant opportunity to double its remittance inflow. Empowering women would contribute to numerous economic and social benefits at multiple levels. As Patiya is entrenched with patriarchal gender norms that adversely affect women, SMBW project, through its partner NGO, Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) in Patiya, focuses on building solidarity among women. This is done through a community platform called “Women’s Circle”.The circle brings women together and informs them of their rights, stimulating general awareness on safe migration and the prevention of human trafficking. A total of 21 women’s circle have been formed across seven unions in Patiya: Kharana, Haidgaon, kelishahar, West Bhurshi, Chhanhara, Bhatikhain and Kachua. Each circle brings together about 30 women aged between 17 and 45 years. They usually belong to the same community and have at least one member of the family who has been involved in migration. Each

circle meets fortnightly and discussions are held for an hour. Generally social capital among women is expected to engender solidarity and collective efforts to push Patriarchal boundaries that inhibit their social and economic empowerment. The SMBW project believes that by combining awareness with solidarity among women, international safe migration of women can be encouraged in . In the meantime, the increased awareness amongst women also helps in keeping the men in their families informed about safe migration.

Courtesy : BRAC Publication, December 2016, Edited by : BRAC / World Bank

Date of publication: 20 June 2017

Writing: Haroon Ur Rashid, Manager, Program Assessment and Monitoring, BITA

& Pradip Acharjee, Coordinator, Program Development. BITA Design: Mrityunjoy Sengupta, Senior Admin Officer, BITA Contact Person Sisir Dutta, Executive Director, Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) E-mail: sisir_bita@yahoo.com Cell No: +88- 01711-845996 Mousumi Chowdhury, Board Member, Executive Committee Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) E-mail: mousumi_priyota@yahoo.com Cell No: +88 -01817-297524

The publication tries to reflect the initiative of BITA with community.

The contents of this publication are sole responsibility of BITA

Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) 753, Mehedibag, Chittagong, Bangladesh Tell: +88-031-610262 ; +88-01711-171070

E-mail: bitactg@gmail.com

www.bitactg.org

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