This Issue o Inception meeting of Campaign for

Tobacco Free Chittagong City project

o TFD show in the Rohingya Camp

o BITA Participated in International Child Week Celebration Program

o Allowance Disbursement among the ROSC-II learners

o Care Givers Training for Oldest person care

o International Oldest day Observation

o World Decent Work Day Observation

o TIE show in the school campus

o Orientation on Child Protection and Gender Violence obstruction in Rohingya Community

o Inauguration of Swapna Jatra (BITA Resource Center and Half Way Home)

o Certificate Distribution of Pre-vocational Skill Training Program

o Executive Director’s Participation in the 8th Athens International Conference

o Experience sharing in Hannover Workshop

o Training session launched from CIAS project

o BITA Ananda School’s participation in Victory Day Observation

Message of Executive Director The year of 2018 is going to back. We

remember all the good events of the year,

those are the inspiration for the future. We

can learn from all the developing events. In

this year BITA presented and implemented

more work for the Women, Youth and under

privilege people of the country and also we

are working with Rohingya Refugee in Cox’s

Bazar. BITA will go ahead by this approach.

New year 2019 is coming. We welcome the

new year.

Happy new year to all.

SISIR DUTTA

Executive Director

BITA E-News Letter 16th Issue October - December 2018

Inception meeting of Campaign for Tobacco Free Chittagong City project

BITA is started a project named “People’s Jubilant Engagement for Tobacco Free Chittagong City”. The objective of the project is to develop the Chittagong City Corporation as a Tobacco free model city for the country and region through effective implementation of the Tobacco Control law with an emphasis on the Tobacco Advertisement, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) ban provisions. Reaching the objective BITA started the project in Chottogram City Corporation partnership with ELLMA (Ensure Legal Support through Local Movement and Actions) & CAB (Consumers Association of Bangladesh). The inception meeting of the project is organized on 19 November 2018 at Chottogram City Corporation Auditorium. As chief guest Chottogram City Corporation honorable mayor A.J.M Nasir Uddin was attended. As special guest Md. Samsudoha, Chief executive officer, Chottogram City Corporation, Dr. Azizur Rahaman Siddique, district civil surgeon officer, Dr. Shariful Islam, country representative, CTFK (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids) were attended. Moreover Panel Mayor Chowdhury Hasan Mahmud Hasni & ward councilor Abida Azad given speech about Tobacco using scenario in Chottogram. From BITA project team leader Pradip Acharjee presents about project brief description & PoS (Point of sales) statistics of Chottogram City. This is mentioned that BITA identified PoS in Chottogram City at initial level of the project. About 16000 more PoS are identified where as 11,000 more don’t have any trade license. The overall scenarios given a snap of TAPS violation is Chottogram. In discussion session city mayor said in his speech that this is a good initiatives supported by CTFK which is implementing by BITA & it’s partners organization and City Corporation really would be proud to take part of this initiatives of Tobacco free Chittagong city Campaign. Mayor will be providing all necessary support to achieve the project objective. Md. Samsudoha, Chief executive officer, Chottogram City Corporation said that City Corporation will be circulated to make sure tobacco free environment into its all official set up, institutions, ward councilor offices, health service set up etc. As well as almost same speech given by Dr. Azizur Rahaman Siddique, district civil surgeon officer,Chottogram. He said that his department will be taken initiatives to get tobacco free of all hospital, clinics in Chottogram. From CTFK, Dr. Shariful Islam said that we are happy that Chottogram is included as one of the selecting city globally campaigning for tobacco free City out of 10 cities & our prime Minister has a declaration to get tobacco free Bangladesh by 2040. So we all together should be take part to achieve the mission. From CAB, Nazar Hossain, president, CAB given welcome speech & Jesmin Sultana Paru, executive director, ELLMA presided the meeting. About 80 different professionals from Govt. non govt actors, civil society representatives, youth’s representatives and socio-cultural organizations representatives participated the meeting. The project is supported by CTFK (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids) for 18 months duration from August 2018 to January 2020.

TFD show in the Rohingya Camp

BITA working for child protection in the Rohingya Camp by its PSCIPE project. By this time BITA

took several steps for child protection. BITA organized 15 TFD show in 11 Rohingya Camp for

increasing community consciousness patience. Rohingya youth group were the activists of the TFD.

The youth group of Boy performed 9 show and youth group of Girl performed 2 show. They took

total 12 days for this acting. About 5300 Rohingya people watched the TFD. They watched the

show by joyful and eagerness. The Rohingya community accepted such innovative process of the

TFD. They felt the necessity of adolescents of performance. They express their opinion about the

subject of TFD. They said it was very important for the child protection and Rohingya people in the

camp. They felt that it was the reminder for them on child protection. The subject of the show was

Child Marriage, Eve Teasing, Drug Addiction, Environment saving, Gardening and service entrance.

BITA Participated in International Child Week Celebration Program

International Child Day, International Child Week and International Girl Child Day’2018 observed by the Bangladesh Shishu academy, Chattogram. Honourable DC of Chattogram was the Chief guest of the program. The events of the program was Child Congress, Discussion Meeting and Cultural Event. The Top Line of the Discussion was “Amar Katha Shono”. BITA Participated in the International Girl Child Day observation program on 11 October 2018. The program celebrated in the Shishu Academy, Chattogram. The events of the program were Discussion meeting, song, dance, drama and Quiz Competition. BITA participated in two events drama and quiz competition. BITA- Kusumbag Urban Slum Ananda School and Jhautola Urban Slum Ananda School students played a drama named “Ballya Bibaha Rodh”. The fact of the drama was that a girl child born in an under privilege family. In the age of starting education she wants to learn but her family have no ability to carry on her education expenditure. In the same time she got a chance for education. Urban Slum Ananda School announced admission notice for under privileged children. The girl admitted in the school but her Father does not want to continue her education, he wants to give her marriage. The girl wants help from the Ananda School. Then the staffs of the Ananda School inform in the Gov’t cell of Early Child Marriage Protection. They took steps against the early child marriage of that girl. Thus she protected from the marriage. The actors and actress of the drama were Ananda School students Mofazzal Hossain, Sharmin Akter, Ramjan Mia, Masuda Akter, Md Helal, Moslem Hossain, Aleya, Tania, Mina Akter, Bristi akter and Morium Akter. The Ananda School Students also participated in the Quiz Competition. Our student Masuda from Kusumbag Urban Slum Ananda School woned a prize in the quiz competition.

Allowance Disbursement and Education Materials Distributed among the ROSC-II learners

BITA continued the project of Reaching Out of School Children (ROSC) from 2017. 40 schools are

running in the Chattogram City Corporation area. Under privilege children from the slum area are

the learners of these school. Monthly allowance managed by Directorate of Primary and Mass

Education. Sonali Bank disbursed the allowance timely. In the month of October 14 branch of

Sonali Bank disbursed the allowance among the learners of ROSC-II project for continue their

education. About 5230 learners received the allowance and education materials like book,

exercise book, bag etc. Learners and their guardian and CMC president were present in the

allowance disbursement and materials distribution moment. Several brunch of Sonali Bank officers

disbursed the Allowance in the School compound.

Care Givers Training for Oldest person care

BITA continuing the old person service program from a long time. BITA took many steps for old persons protection by this time in the Ramgoti upazila in Laxmipur district. We always indorse new intervention for old person protection program. BITA arranged 5 training for 5 group of Care Givers in the Char Gazi union of Ramgati Upazila. Total of 100 Care Givers took training. All the Care Givers take care of oldest person in the area. They received the technique how they would take care of laid down oldest person. The participants of the training promised that they will take care of the oldest person heartly.

International Oldest day Observation

BITA is working for oldest person living status from a long time. BITA is trying to develop make easier life style of the oldest person in the Ramgoti Upazila of Luxmipur District. BITA is taking many steps for oldest persons rights from a long time. 1st October is the “International Oldest Day” , BITA added with the Gov’t to observe that day. International Oldest Day observed in the Ramgoti upazila in Laxmipur District on 1st October 2018. The program organized by Department of Social service, Ramgoti. BITA was the leading point in the program. The program organized on 1st October 2018. Main activities of the program was Rally and Discussion meeting. Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Upazila Chairman of Ramgoti upazila attended in the program. About 200 youth girl, boy and oldest men, women attended in the program. Upazila Nirbahi Officer discussed broadly about their activities for oldest persons. He also declared that help for oldest person’s will be continue in the upazila.

World Decent Work Day Observation BITA is working for Women and Adolescent empowerment by its Empowering Women and Adolescent for Social Change (EWASC) project. On the way of EWASC Action for Impact (A4I) is now helping the project. Decent work one of the component of A4I. BITA observed “World Decent Work Day” on 9th October 2018. BITA organized day long program on decent work for youth employees. 400 youth participated in the program and also Gov’t and Non Gov’t TVET institute authority has joined in the program. The Chief Guest of the program was Mr Dipak Chakraborty, Director, LGED, Ctg and the special Guest was Eng B M Shariful Islam Chowdhury, Principal, Chittagong Mohila Technical Training Center. In the program Youth Development department Chattogram, Bangladesh Korea Technical Training Center and Women Training Center Chattogram authority discussed the opportunity for youth in their organization. BITA showed a drama on Decent Work.

The name of the drama was “Aai Aamader Dabi”. Directed by Abir Mandal. BITA Youth Drama Group and some theatre activist performed in the drama.There were Debate Competition, Kobi Gan, Discussion meeting were in the program. The subject of the discussion meeting and massage of the drama were what is decent work, the element of the decent work, the mile stone of decent work.

The Participant discuss about the decent work that decent work is to give chance in productive work, where men and women will get equal rights and a better environment have present in the work place.In which work freedom, honesty, justice, security ensured. The element of the decent work is Enough employment opportunity, productive work and justified salary, accurate work hour, child labour elimination, coordination in work , family and personal life, permanent and secured work, equal opportunity for all employee and good conduction, secured work environment, social security, representation of employer and employee etc.

TIE show in the school campus

Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) has initiated the classroom based presentation with

association of MSI and USAID. Theatre In Education (TIE) is an unique program of BITA, on

Prevention against Violence Extremism (PVE) creating awareness. About 1200 students of 10

schools in Chittagong city area watched the show.. The messages disseminated such as

strengthening family and community bonding through this program. We want to create an

awareness towards proper use of media to help the friends in a proper way and proper utilization

of technology through a drama “Shuvro: Darkness Destination”, performed by Suinu Marma and

Salauddin Mahmud. The drama directed by Bappa Chowdhury. Short dialogues were delivered

through materials like hand fan and folders. The ultimate message of the drama were if we face

any problem we (children) will discuss it freely with our family member and then take proper

decision, always play a role of good friend and will help the friend in his danger time. We

(Children) do not misuse the social net like Facebook, Youtube etc. We do not waste time by using

these social net. BITA will continue this show in several school.

Orientation on Child Protection and Gender Violence obstruction in Rohingya Community

BITA is working in the Rohingya Camp for Child protection and Gender Violence prevention. BITA

give motivation to the people of Rohingya community in the Camp. BITA want to motivate them

about the Child Protection and Gender Violence Prevention. BITA want to engage Religious Leader

in this action. BITA believe that the training and orientation is the best way to be ready a group for

any achievement of any intervention. By this concept BITA arranged a orientation program for the

Religious Leader of the Rohingya Camp from Rohingya Community for engage them in the Child

Protection and Gender Violence prevention. Two orientation organized in the 3 and 16 no Camp.

The orientation was participatory system and trying to concept development activity what to do.

About 38 Religious Leader from Rohingya Community attended in the orientation. They understood

their responsibility for child welfare and development. They pointed out the harmful conduct for

child and understood the necessity to safe themselves from that work or conduct. They show

eagerness to do something for child protection and gender violence prevention.

Inauguration of Swapna Jatra (BITA Resource Center and Half Way Home)

BITA inaugurated the Resource Center and Half Way Home on 15th October 2018 by its Bangladesh Counter Trafficking in Persons (BCTIP)project. The project funded by USAID and the technical support of Winrock International. The Home situated in the Bandertila of Chattogram City Corporation area. The Swapna Jatra (Half Way Center) is for counselling of Human Trafficked persons, Referral Opportunity, Human Trafficking Obstruction and Secured Immigration. There are separate living opportunity for men and women in this Resource Center and Half Way Home,

The persons will also get the necessary information. Officer, Democracy, Human Rights and Governance program of USAID Mr Tom Pop inaugurated the Swapna Jatra. Another officer of USAID, BCTIP Cop Lisbeth Donavelt, another officer of BCTIP and Managing Director of Denim Expert Ltd Mr Mostafiz Uddin attended the program. Executive Director, BITA expressed well come to the guest. Power Point presentation showed about the mission, vision and activities of the project. BITA generate a Puppet Show in the finishing of the program.

Certificate Distribution of

Pre-vocational Skill Training Program

BITA is providing Pre-vocational Skill Training to young persons of host community in Ukhya and

Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar District. The participants receive 3 months training in the program.

By this time 400 young person (boy, girl) completed the training. The project is under the

program of Reaching Out of School Children (ROSC-II). After the completion of training the

participants receive the certificate. The certificate distribution program started on 25th October

in Jaliapalong and Morischa Pre-vocational Training Center of Ukhya upazila . In the first day 40

certificate distributed among the 40 trainees of the Training Center. Another 40 certificate

distributed on 27th October 2018 among the trainee of Godarbil and Whaikong Pre-vocational

Center of Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar District. Deputy Director of ROSC-Ii project Mr Shahadat

Hossain distributed the certificate in the Ukhya upazila and the Project Director of ROSC-II

project Mr Md Delwar Hossain, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education

distributed the certificate in the Teknaf upazila. BITA also trying for job placement of the trainees

of PEVT program. By this time 29 trainees joint in job. They now earning money and they are

very happy. The Project Director appreciated the job placement of the trainees.

Executive Director’s Participation in the 8th Athens International Conference BITA have a good collaboration with Hellenic Theatre/Drama Education Network. By that Network 8th International conference on Theatre in Education has been taken place in Athens on 23, 24, 25th November 2018. For the preparation, Pre conference events hold from 19 to 25 November 2018.

The conference is organized by the Hellenic Theatre/Drama Education Network in the 20th anniversary of the foundation, in partnership with the International Drama Theatre and Education Association (IDEA) and in collaboration with a number of academic, professional and artistic institutions in Greece and abroad under the title “ Theatre and Performing Arts in Education: Utopia or Necessity?”.

Honorable Executive Director of BITA Mr Sisir Ranjan Dutta participated in the conference and attended Pre conference Events. He presented a paper presentation at “Theatre in Education: Connecting Children with Entertaining Education” in the conferance. The scientific and organizing committee of the Hellenic Theatre/Drama Education Network have very pleased of the presentation. About 400 delegates from the world attended in the conference.

Experience sharing in Hannover Workshop

Initiative for Internationalen Kulturaustausch e.v organized a workshop at Hannover, Germany on the situation of Refugee. Executive Director of BITA Mr Sisir Dutta attended as a Guest Speaker on 21st Novembe 2018 workshop and as a speaker of professional discussion meeting. In the 21st November he discussed about the situation of the Rohingya as well as answer questions from the public, especially the numerous kids and teenagers who have to hold out in these camps and have no access to fundamental rights as they are the citizen of Mayanmar but it is significantly mentioned Gov’t have a significant role to solve this problem. On 28th November he was also a speaker at the professional discussion meeting. As BITA has been working in the Rohingya Camp on Child Rights, he shared his experiences with the refugees in the refugee camp and discussed possible action strategies.

Training session launched from CIAS project

BITA is working in the Rohingya project from the beginning of the Rohingya entrance in the Cox’s Bazar. One of the project in the Rohingya camp is “Community Information and Accountability Service (CIAS)”. BITA arranged two days long Training for Project Staff on IPC & CwC approaches (also including the Project Orientation) and for the capacity development of CIAS staffs on 9-10 December 2018 under this project which was held at Galaxy Resort Limited (Beside KFC restaurant), Block # A, Plot # 6, Kalatali Road, Cox’s Bazar. Sisir Dutta, Executive Director of BITA, Fazlul Alam Nizan, Manager Finance & Admin of BITA, Sardar Arif Uddin from Unicef, ASM. Jamal Uddin, Project Manager of BITA-CIAS Project were present in the inaugural session. Mr Jamal uddin delivered the opening speech. Sardar Arif Uddin was the trainer of the training. Sisir Dutta, Executive Director of BITA, delivered about a life changing training where everyone has a chance to learn new things. He said, “BITA is a concept for providing message for excluded society. Many UN agencies invited BITA for operating in Camps since emergency period, but BITA took little more time. However, BITA took initiative for a ‘pilot project”. After the second day sessions there is a feedback mechanism to assess activities and capacity building. Then Mr. Md. Alamgir, UNICEF provide some of the core information and guidelines to operate proper ways like holding accountability and responsibility.

BITA Ananda School’s participation in Victory Day Observation

Victory Day celebrated on 16-12-2018 in Chattogram. Parade and Display arranged in the M A Aziz stadium in Chattogram. 32 learners of Kusumbag, Udayan Gali and Boiler Colony Ananda School participated in the Display and Parade. The theme of the Display was “Hridoye Bangladesh”. The song of the display was “Proti din tomay dekhi surja rage”. About 37 schools attended in the Display, Parade, sports and cultural program. The presentation distributed among the participants. Flower devoted in the Shahid Minar. The character of Victory Day and discussed about the Freedom War of Bangladesh. The Chief guest of the victory day was DC of Chattogram Mr Habibiur Rahman. Ananda School learner Md Mofazzal hossain received the presentation from the ADC. The salutation received by Mr Hbibur Rahman, DC Chattogram.

Date of Publication

02 January 2019

Writing :

Haroon Ur Rashid, Manager, Program Assessment and Monitoring

Pradip Acharjee, Coordinator, Program Development

Ashok Barua, Project Coordinator

Bappa Chowdhury, Project Manager

Kanij Farhana,Project Coordinator

A H M Hossain Monsur Masum , Project Coordinator

Jamal Uddin, Project Manager, CIAS Project

Md. Ibrahim, Project Coordinator

Urmi Barua, Media Manager

Abir Mandal, Monitoring & Documentation MSI Project

Ela Chowdhury,Program Officer

Design

Mrityunjoy Sengupta, Senior Admin Officer & Focal Person HRM, 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 -01711-150322

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

this publication are sole responsibility of BITA

BITA (Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts) 753, Mehedibag, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Tell: +88-031-610262 ; +88-01711-171070;01971-171070

E-mail: bitactg@gmail.com

www.bitactg.org