http://siraj.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/337011
On November 17, 1999, the Unesco declared February 21 as the International Mother Language Day, is celebrating worldwide. From President to general people of Bangladesh celebrate this day, offer the flowers in Shahid Minar with bare foot, however expressed the heart and devotion for national prosperity. The day is a public holiday. The national flag will be hoisted at half-mast atop all government, autonomous and private buildings. The government and different socio-political and cultural organisations have taken up separate programmes to observe the Language Martyrs' Day.It is an inspirational event to save the language and culture of thousand minority tribe of the world.]]> Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:39:00 EST http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/337011 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/244811
http://www.unnayantv.com/documentary/grameenconcert.htm
http://www.unnayantv.com/documentary/grameensong.htm

Local performance -
Grameen Concert

In rural Bangladesh the music band know as, “Ganer Dol”. The main vocal of the singer is generally team leader, called boiati or baul or gaiok. The group use local musical instruments like ektara, harmonium, tobla and dukduki. The singers are farmer and sing song occasionally during their leisure, however respected as spirited men as they speed the ethical words, mystical practices and moral teaching through songs. But the reality, the singer who takes singing as profession always struggle with poverty and suffer for minimum existence. Most of Ganer Dol has at least one or two young member who learner but help his Ustat (teacher) during the concert, however encourage and make chorus with senior members. The concert generally organized in the full moon night after harvesting, is a popular event of villagers' entertainment.

Abdur Rahman and his team is singing a mystical song with local form and approach in this music video, is produced by J. Alam and Likon, young team members of Machizo.

http://www.unnayantv.com/documentary/grameenconcert.htm


Local performance -
Grameen Song

The clip is the music video of Abdur Rakman, produced by J. Alam and Likon, young team members of Machizo. The song expresses the word and story of romantic love parallel to indirect expression of human life. It is having deep affection and appeal for help to overcome life difficulties with symbolic character of Radha. However the song is composed by the singer with local motif and language of Mymensing region. Abdur Rakman is famous boiati ( singer ) Hatil village of Muktagacha Upazila.

http://www.unnayantv.com/documentary/grameensong.htm




]]> Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:51:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/244811 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/241935
Due to river rein and flat terrain geology, flood is a yearly disaster in Bangladesh. The few catastrophic floods the country suffered after its independence, the present one is one of the severe ones. Even the areas including the outskirts of Dhaka, which never had flooding got inundated this time. The flood waters washed away villages, towns, cattle and cultivable fields. Two thirds of the country is now under water.

Communication system is destroyed and flood affected starving people have taken refuge on high roads, embankments, schools and in various shelters. There is an extreme scarcity of drinking water and for the lack of pure drinking water lot of people especially children die. People are passing their days in boundless misery for the last three weeks. They look forward to some aid while waiting in their shelters.

20 districts including Tangail, Sirajganj, Shunamganj, Manikganj, Kurigram and Jamalpur are the worst hits in this year’s flood. Various epidemics and waterborne diseases including cholera and diarrhea will spread soonest the flood water recedes. The post flood rehabilitation; lack of food, repairing affected infrastructures will bring yet another challenge.

]]> Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:03:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/241935 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/241933
It will profoundly produce and feature video contents on grassroots reality, cultural spirit, environment, marginalised community, development success story, indigenous ways, human rights, alternative initiatives and promising leadership.

Multimedia local content producing, advocacy to peoples rights and promoting majority peoples stories with innovative journalistic approach are the main mission of UnnayanTV. It will focus to feature the unreported Bangladesh and will create space for marginalized community particularly grassroots poor to express their voice, experience and stories. UnnyanTV’s vision to make Bangladeshi grassroots people as "internet hero`.

UnnayanTV is open for making partnership and collaboration with national and international development organisations and creative individuals who are committed to develop the present scenarios.

UnnayanTV a non for profit project of Machizo, social entrepreneur multimedia and communication organisation in Bangladesh. The ideas was started from UnnayanNews initiative, a Panos funded initiative.
]]> Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:56:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/241933 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/227967
The author from the water world of Gopalgonj made his first trip to a forest in 1980 that was the Modhupur sal forest. There was no bear or tiger left in Modhupur when he stepped into the forest. Still it was a fascinating experience for him to roam around with friends, sticks in hands. Flocks of monkeys and long-tailed hanumans (langur) that still survived with the towering sal thrilled them.

What attracted the young mind of the author most was the matrilineal Garo or Mandis of the forest villages. He found them to be very special people compared to the majority community of Bangladesh. The Mandis of Modhupur are truly forest people. The hospitality that he was offered by the Mandis was unforgettable.

This thrill of a young man remained dormant for a decade and then sprung again in the late eighties of the last decade. His frequent visits to the Modhupur forest, and happy moments with the Mandis eventually led him to other forests and to know so many wonderful people from diverse forest communities. The Author’s visits throughout the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have been saddening in most instances; however, he has not missed the riches in nature and the ethnic communities in this once mega-diversity region. Like in Modhupur what he enjoyed most in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is the time with the forest communities such as Mru, Khyang, Chakma, Tripura, Marma, Chak, and Bawm. Meals served in their bamboo houses in the truly forest villages in the mountains have always come as a surprise to him.
His journey through a few Khasi villages in the Northeast of Bangladesh has always been refreshing. Although most of the forests in the Northeastern region have vanished, a traditional Khasi village, surrounded by betel leaf cultivation, demonstrates a culture deeply tangled with the forest.

As the author has frequented Modhupur and other forests and spent wonderful times with diverse forest people of different times and ages, he realizes why and how peoples, indigenous to the forests, are part of them. That the Khasis in Sylhet, Mandis in Modhupur, and jumias in the CHT are really intertwined with the native forests is manifested in their cultures.

It is a matter of great regret that the forest and its children are placed in horrible circumstances today. The author has witnessed how the Modhupur sal forest has been stripped of its traditions. Decay of forests is not unique in Bangladesh. But the introduction of plantations—monoculture of teak, rubber, eucalyptus and acacia—has horrendous consequences on these native forests. In Modhupur, invasive species have made their way into the forestland under the guise of 'social forestry' that is plantation in essence. Here 'social forestry' that was initiated in 1989-'90 was preceded by rubber monoculture that destroyed a significant part of the sal forest. The so-called 'social forestry' funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has caused immense ruin to the sal forest, not only in Modhupur, but also in other sal forest patches up to the northern tip of Bangladesh as well.
The promotion of plantation economy is indeed at the core of the destruction of the unique forests in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chittagong, and the Cox's Bazar belt. It was in this region that the first plantation of exotic or invasive species took place in 1872. However, except for the Sundarbans, monoculture plantations have rapidly expanded in recent times in all forest regions of Bangladesh. This has happened in the setting of rapid expansion of 'simple plantation forestry' around the globe. This is a serious concern because plantation forestry has been the foremost factor for the destruction of native forests. We have very disturbing statistics here—the country's official 18 per cent public forestland has shrunk to approximately six per cent that includes the mangrove forests and the plantation of more than 400,000 ha, raised since 1872.

The author is convinced out of his practical experience that the plantations are not forests at all. In Bangladesh monoculture plantations of teak, rubber, eucalyptus, acacia, pine and other exotics that we see on the public forestland are mainly 'simple plantation forestry' that requires clear felling of native forests at the time of its establishment. Clear felling at harvest time is also a basic feature of simple plantation. This leads to catastrophic effects on the environment in public forests as we see in the case of Bangladesh. With the loss of the forests the forest-dwelling communities lose their commons.

In many countries including Bangladesh 'degraded' 'denuded' and 'less productive' forestlands are targeted for plantations. However, what is often branded as 'less productive' or 'degraded' is actually native forest that has immense social, cultural, traditional, educational, medicinal and environmental values. In Bangladesh while the plantation projects are implemented by the government, they are financed mostly by the international financial institutions (IFIs)-Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank. The promotion of plantation economy, officially-sanctioned logging, reservation, settlement of Bengalis in the CHT, etc. are some of the major factors that underlie the destruction of the forests and the misery of the forest-dwelling ethnic communities.

Philip Gain has been through the forests in different regions and come across communities primarily for his research into human rights abuses and environmental hazards. At the same time he has made images out of his passion and attraction to the beauty and suffering of Nature and people. Over the past one and half decades he has learned how wrongfully the ill-fated forest-dwelling communities and their practices are frequently blamed for the ruin of the forests. In this book he has put together images of the beauty of our forest together with beautiful faces that we see in the forest and those of the underlying factors for destruction that are veiled by the authorities.

The Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD), the organization he has been working with since it was founded in 1993, has given him an outstanding opportunity to study the fate of our forests and the ethnic communities who are an integral part thereof. He has not studied the forests with scientific knowledge or even with adequate training in photography. But his love for the subject has given him confidence. The selection of images in this book is the best expression of his gratitude to Nature and its children.

Authored by Philip Gain
Published by Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)
Published 2007
216 pages in art paper Price: Tk.1500 US$25
]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:18:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/227967 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/223315
“Beggars’ Market” is the first web documentary has been made for UnnayanTV.
http://www.unnayantv.com/index.html

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Thousands marginalized are living with extreme poverty in this Dhaka city. The beggar is an exposed symbol of ultra poor. Near by Shajahanpur Railway Colony ground has a beggars’ gathering place where they sales rice, old cloth and materials collected by begging from door to door. This place can be called, “Beggars’ market”. It starts every afternoon with 30 to 40 beggars. The local people don’t know well about this gather, although it is continuing regularly since last 30 years. Most of their clients of this market are marginalized slum dwellers, rickshaw pullers and garments workers. Here the price of mixed rice is less than normal market price. Every beggar generally brings three to four kilograms rice in which per kg price 20 to 22 taka.

With a vision for a better life, the beggars generally come at Dhaka from villages of the poor districts Jamalpur, Barisal, Rangpur, Nilphmari and Thagoregaon. In this Shajaanpur area they are begging at Bashabo, Malibagh, Khilgaon, Tikatuli, Shahjahanpur and Rampura. Most of the beggars are river eroded victims, landless, physically and mentally disable. The crude reality most of all have lost the human dignity and self-reliance potentiality. They have taken begging as the last choose for existence. All though government has declare to help aged and disable, but they don’t get any support.
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We are looking you suggestions and partnership to UnnayanTV initiatives. ]]> Mon, 25 Jun 2007 23:36:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/223315 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/210557 The orginal format of documentary is DVD, view: panoromic, duration- 14 minutes
Price: 10 USD ( Tk. 500 ). Contact: siraj@machizo.com

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Lalon was mystical poet and saint. He was devoted to love, freedom and peace that express in his songs. He taught the way of eternal liberation. He strongly emphasized to resolve the internal conflict and dominancy of false desires.

He was the greatest mystic-singer of the subcontinent. Lalon believed, the ‘body’ is the universe and the universe is the body. He was revolutionary, challenged to contemporary life style, religions and practices with simple word of songs.




Detail with video documentary >>
]]> Sun, 27 May 2007 07:55:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/210557 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/189377 Koinobori are fish shaped flags traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate Children's Day. ( 5th May ). Traditionally, the flags are used to incourages children as the carp can swim upstream. The flags are made by coloful decorated paper, cloth, nonwoven fabric etc .The sizes of 'koi flags' genearlly one feet to a few meters long. However it is flown generally infront of house, school where the children gather. Download gt;gt;

]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:09:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/189377 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/189375 Sakura is flower not laves. It is the only one example nature flowers before leaves. It makes the Japan as a garden in March- April with different types flowers. However it makes a cultures. Hanami ( nature observation ), festival, event even the food and perfume widely used in this time based on the beauty of Sakura and its mode. As my experience, its make an excellent unity between nature and human heart. Download >>

]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:07:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/189375 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/179049
But in Dhaka the reverse things is happening. Even one minutes can not pass without car horns, however 10% citizen don`t have car. Now I under how miserable the sound pollution and road traffic! In Dhaka we the car owner is used horn unnecessarily, in a sense expression of the car owner`s superiority as s/he is rich person. I have visited Japanese village. The farmer generally used pick up car, can go to their crop-field by car as well. However I could not extreme difference between Japanese village and town. Citizen facility are available equally both in village and town. Just village are dominant by crop-fields and towns are by building. As the citizen rights are ensured and life facility accessible, the villagers don`t want to migrate to city cordially. But presently young are moving little bit by the American cultural influence. However mid and old aged people live own town and eeryday return house without horn with meditative spirit.
]]> Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:21:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/179049 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/178653
I am surprised, even though in Bangladesh has thousands people participation in political and election campaign, but democratic rights are not ensured. Here corrupted politician don’t get any access to the majority people. The God father/ leader here can not be super hero as can be Bangladesh like country. I am surprised to see, the leader in Bangladesh is rich that Japanese leader. They spend and invest huge money for their political business. From this experience, my finding, in Japan Governments/ authority ensure democratic rights and rule of law. The crude reality Bangladesh like developing countries authority is central points for their nonprofessional services and unethical, disqualified official norms. But now I feel good to see a vision to change in national body in this caretaker government period. It may make positive trends.
]]> Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:23:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/178653 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/176349
I asked my wife about Coronet language. She said, Coronet is now going to orientation school and within a month learn some Japanese words along with manner. Now he can eat by Hasi ( chopstick ) .

I carefully observe and understand the human nature and cultural practices from Coronet life. The child Coronet who one month before talk bangle (basic broken words) now he is talking Japanese. He did Namas (pray) Muslim way with my brother, but now following Japanese traditions (mixed with Sintu and Buddhism). I understand, how influence the culture and environment to human character. I am relief, if Coronet grows up with inter-cultural and or inter-national norms, he surely will not be `Ben Ladan `, or `Bangla bhai` or `Rab Shana`. He should not kill human before to protect culture and traditions. My vision is to educate him to be a `Peace Maker ` and Educator.

]]> Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:21:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/176349 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/86571
More info at: http://www.bangkokpost.net/60yrsthrone/
]]> Sat, 13 Jan 2007 07:45:00 EST http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/86571 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/37684
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http://www.unnayannews.net/issue/cultureNdevelopment/noboborsho.htm
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Pahela Baishakh is the first day of Bangla new year celebrated at 14 April with total heart and participation is known as “ Nôbo Bôrsho ”. Thousands people on Friday poured into the streets, parks and public places across the country. This biggest festival of the Bangalees began with Tagore's song "Esho hey Baishakh Esho Esho" ( welcome new year, welcome, welcome ) sung by the artistes of Chhayanaut at the city's Ramna Batamul at early morning.

There was no room to move at the Chhayanaut celebrations at Ramna Batamul as the continuation since 1964, brave steps to protest against the Pakistani cultural accusation. Along Ramna Park, the Dhaka University campus, Central Shahid Minar, Dhanmondi, and Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area were sea of peoples.

Local handicrafts, fashion material and artifacts were displayed and sold at Baishakhi Melas in different parts of the capital. Women particularly young girls dress up white saris with red borders and men clothed punjabis, fatua with cultural pride and fashion. The young and children had their cheeks painted with floral designs or slogans by students of fine arts, welcoming the new year.

Different organisations brought out processions and organized musical programmes, fairs and cake festivals to mark the day. Students of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University took out traditional Mangal Shobhajatra in the morning with thousands of revelers wearing chequered masks. The colorful pageant was decorated with paper sculptures of a huge tiger, Doyel (magpie robin) which is the national bird, a rooster and a long snake, and masks of owl, tiger and fish.

In this national event, the security was high in alert by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and reserve police particularly in Roma for attack by fanatic groups. In the wide participation and festivities spirit Ain-O-Shalish Kendro, Proshika, Udichi etc. development organisations and cultural groups did procession and sympathized to people of Kansat in Chapainawabganj, 24 killed and is killing by police for legal demand to electricity. The Bangla Academy, the Shilpakala Academy, the Libertarian War Museum, Besho Shahitto Kendro organized special program in this day. The specialty of this year celebration, is to overcome the fear of bomb attack by religious extremists in high alert security.

As the history, the Pahela Baishakh, Bangla calendar has started since Emperor Akbar period. If was introduced to ease tax collection by matching to the local harvesting sessions. However celebrating by the Bangalee with the motivation to start yearly efforts with new vision and spirit. Generally, in countryside the businessperson as well as traders and shopkeepers open Halkhata (fresh accounts book) on this day and entertain the customers with sweets. Pôhela Boishakh is celebrated in a festive manner in both Bangladesh and West Bengal . In Bangladesh, Pôhela Boishakh is a public holiday, celebrated on April 14 according to the official amended calendar designed by the Bangla Academy but in West Bengal at 15 April.
]]> Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:15:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/37684 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/37548
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Detail with VIDEO CLIP >>>
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http://www.unnayannews.net/issue/cultureNdevelopment/rickshaw.htm

The schools of art do not well treat and give recognition to rickshaw art and artists. The nonacademic rickshaw artists excellently visualize the time, life, traditions, lifestyle with entertained motifs. The journey of this art in Bangladesh was started since 1940, when the European jute exporters living in Narayanganj and Netrokona, Mymensingh; had first imported cycle rickshaw from Calcutta for their personal use. Of that time, it was a vehicle of elites. The main difference Dhakai and Kalkata rickshaw is in wheels. In Kalkata still now two wheels “man rickshaw” (gin rickshaw – primitive form) but Dhaka's one three wheels and decorative.

Early time the new vehicle made attractions among the people particularly in Dhaka dwellers who were traditionally used to horse carriages, palanquins and city-canal boats. In 1941, the number of rickshaw was 37 in which number almost in two laces. Within short time, it become popular became main transportation of the country. Middle class and lower middle class now widely used rickshaw. Along with spreading the popularity over the country the rickshaw art also take diversity and individual motif in place wise. Dhaka itself becomes a city of rickshaw.

With the increasing number of rickshaw, it is losing originality particularly in painting. One rickshaw polar incomes increase into 3-4 dolor per day. However, do not change the reality. Whole day hardship, fighting with poverty, racing with engine taxi and high rental price makes restless. Now the pullers cannot run paddles with deep heart song as forebear did. Every that major portion of income have to pay to owner as rent.

To discover the real situation we went “Lokhi Bazaar”, is famous for rickshaw art in old Dhaka. I was disappointed to see the reality, could set with only one family and three shops. Broken street, very old house and marginalized life dimmed with hopeless with poverty.

However Rickshaw Art ornamental art of rickshaws, which may be extended to cover whole rickshaw decoration, from painted backboards and rear side panels to cut-outs appliquéd on to hoods and brass vases replete with plastic or paper flowers. There is a lot of repetition, either because of the popularity of some motifs and or because of the influence of the master artisan. The paintings are designed quickly, with readymade enamel paints, which do not allow paints to be mixed. Bright primary colors are popular and the painting is flat, lacking shadows, perspective, and scale. All the ornaments are made with colorful plastic paper, paints with enamel color that are rain-sun proved.

The illiterate rickshaw artist learns art techniques by living with Ustat ( master ) from boyhood. They do not have copyrights, even most of case do not mentioned name in art also. But in the back of rickshaw generally having mark of maker with bold steel pin, for example - “ Fazlu Mistri ”. Nowadays the rickshaw art and artist are in ‘struggle of existence'. The third and forth generations artists are not interested to this art, do not feel pride because of low income and reorganization. Day by day, screen painting, and digital painting technology replacing to this innovation artworks.

‘Auto rickshaw (baby taxi)' in city and van rickshaw (without shad) in rural are present and widely used form. Both are having the heritage of ornamental decoration art in body. It is distinct in rickshaw art reflects the time and local values. In early seventies Dhaka city's rickshaw are mostly decorated and backboard are designed with birds, animal scenes, natural scenes, star portrait and pictures of movie themes. Sylhet, Chittagong and Comilla areas show less enthusiasm about decorating rickshaws. The backboard's theme is based on Islamic mythology or story. For example mosque, borak, majar, tajmahal, macca, flower, scripture reading etc. Scenes of liberation war, win of muktijoddha (freedom fighters) were also patriotic expressions in backboard. But now local motifs are pushing out by Bombay movie's scene, landmark of London, Paris, New York, Sydney etc. The abruptly changes are happen as the result of digital painting realm and effect of so-called globalization.

Not only such Dhaka street shop, business even Dhakai movie reshape with the liking of rickshaw community. The life of a rickshawala (driver) is harsh and frustrating since so much of the work takes place in traffic jammed streets, but this work is more financially rewarding than life back home in the village with no job and no means to earn. Longtime detaching from family and wife, they inclined easily to multi marriage, polygamy, unsafe street sex – even have crucial poverty. The rickshaw community now high risk to HIV/AIDS and poverty. However, they do not have adequate health consciousness, access and knowledge.

]]> Thu, 13 Apr 2006 05:43:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/37548 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/36889 http://www.unnayannews.net/issue/cultureNdevelopment/adibasi.htm

Hamni Hiki Bangladeshi , was the first performance by an Oraon young group in the festival. This three days annual festival organised by SEHD (Society for Environment and Human Development) that was inaugurated by Kumudini Hajong, a famous woman leader of the historic Tanka Movement at 4:00pm of 20 March at National Museum. In the inaugural ceremony speakers said Adivasi language and culture are now on the verge of extinction. The struggle to establish right to the land of the Advasis has not yet come to the end though it started during the British rule. During the Liberation War the Adivasis sacrificed their lives for independence but they are now living as aliens in their own country. Speakers also demanded that the government take initiative for the education of the Adivasis through their own language.

The State Minister for Cultural Affairs, Selima Rahman, attended in the festival as chief guest. Chingku Roaza, a leading intellectual of the hill tracts, Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori, and professor Mahmudul Haq, director general of the National Museum and Prof Sakhawat Ali Director general of the SEHD specks strongly to ensure the citizen and equal rights of the Adivasi people.
In the opening ceremony of ` Forests and Forest Culture `, the photography exhibition by Philip Gain and display of adivasi , the speakers said about the peaceful life and living of Adivasi with the nature. The stunned by the present situation of the environment and development approach by distorting forest and forest culture. They explained the dangers of the hazardous practices. The exhibition was opened by Mr. Dwijen Sarma, an eminent environmentalist, Mr. Goutam Dewan, convener, Movement for the Protection of Forest and L and Rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts; Mr. Abir Abdullah, photojournalist. Prof. Sakhawat Ali Khan preside over the inauguration. The exhibition will continue 18 to 24 March 2006 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM .

However 17 cultural groups and people particularly youth from 21 ethnic communities participated in the festival. With the participation of a number of Adivasi artistes and traditional indigenous cultural programmes were performed at the festival, which will exhibit at Drik gallery for seven days.

More info at
>> http://www.sehd.org
>> http://www.unnayannews.net

]]> Thu, 23 Mar 2006 04:19:00 EST http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/36889 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/36491 Sat, 11 Mar 2006 12:03:00 EST http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/36491 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/33429 Sun, 25 Dec 2005 01:48:00 EST http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/33429 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/32810
>> URL for the documentary is http://www.news.unnayannet.org/issue/aids/2005.htm]]> Mon, 05 Dec 2005 17:08:00 EST http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/32810 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/31792 http://www.news.unnayannet.org

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Countrywide 459 blasts in 63 districts within 30 minutes at 17th August 2005 has made a black scene of Bangladesh history. With this terrorism was mostly involved misguided grassroots youth, are militants and innocent belivers, have no clear concpt about the modern World, faith and life style. General finiding, this incidence is not cause, is the reselt. It happened because we could not educate and trainup the fallen as universal minded for encounter the fanaticism, hateism, prejudices and ignorance. The crude reality in the Bangladesh is - majority people don't have yet minimum access to basic life information. The youth and children grow up without knowing; and living in high risk of invisible conflict (sometime exposed ), HIV/AIDS as well as in degradition of human values. This is time to initiate moving, "Saving Youth, Saving Nation".

Living this time, we keenly feel to make a steps for change. We would like to contribute for root out the misunderstandings and anti-development forces by media education, proper information and news discemination. With this vision “UnnayanNews ” has started this new missin and working form, that is “Launching Bangladesh First Development Multimedia Journal”. We believe only one news can makes unpresident development by making revolation in heart. Initialy it will be published once every three months covering important development and human rights issues.

Eventhough, there is a limitation in internet speed and access lessthan 1%, but we belive “UnnayanNews” initiative will make a milestone for multimedia and online journalim in Bangladesh. The speciality of the UnnayanNews is to focus on people oriented development and democratic participation beyond controverstial political aspects. Along with Bangladeshi matters it will cover common South Asian issues also.

In other word, our strategy is to effective use of newmedia opportunity for rising the global conciousness for development. We would like to also go forward with the vision of United Nations to establish information society and povertlyless “ New World” by 2015. Five years for MDGs and 50 years for Universal Human Rights establishment have already passed; but still now more than 95% Bangladeshi don't know the Goals and Rights. With founding spirit, “UnnayanNews” surely will do advocacy, multimedia coverage and research to reach in a dignified level.

On the eve of WSIS and SAARC summit the first issues, “South Asian Voice” very relevent. My prayerful desires national and development leaders' gathering both in Dhaka and Tunis will look ultimate goals, common and high prosperity beyond the limited self interests with communal spirit for a golden future. It should had to cover more matters of the regional issues. But due to our resource and time limitation we could not wide the efforts, even could not touch Maldives' reality ! To represent board social reality and core situation of lands within limited arrangement, we have focused only digital divide and information rights.

We are sorry, considering Southern countries low Internet speed, we have used video clips low in size. Some case it has lost the quality of video and sound. Wish in near future we will be able to overcome this limitations.


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Shahjahan Siraj
Initiator and Editor, UnnayanNews
http://www.machizo.com ; http://www.unnayannet.org
http://www.machizo.com/siraj

OUR ARENA : ONLINE JOUNALISM, WEB DESIGN, MULTIMEDIA, DIGITAL CREATIVITY, COMMUNITY MEDIA PROMOTION AND ACTION ORIENTED RESEARCH.
]]> Sat, 12 Nov 2005 16:16:00 EST http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/31792 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/29294 My experiences, “I am very impressed and moved to see the huge participation and cooperation. I understand beyond the educational curriculum it is very needed ICT education to the Grassroots youth. However visual and multimedia presentation are effective for quick result. In the region there is no any community media center, or knowledge center or telecenter. Children and youth are learning with struggle by their own initiatives. Privileged are wining in the struggle and the digital divide, information and opportunity gap are becoming more sharp which are not favorable for the future leadership and development. I believe a small “Grassroots Media Center” can make bridge and open the gate for Access to information and opportunities for local people. Within limited time and resources we organize the festival. My commitment in the year 2006 we will organize the festival more widely…”

Detail at - http://www.festival.unnayannet.org
]]> Sat, 03 Sep 2005 11:25:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/29294 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/26287
In rural Japan still now telephone, TV is the powerful ICTs. Radio generally used to enjoy song in car. Beyond the entertainment nature, TV regularly provides every citizen life information with issues based programs which produced with step by step presentation combine with designed text, graphics, animation and video. There is no gender gap; women drive, cultivate and work whole day as like as men. In bank, post office, library and government offices interactive touch screen technology is popular for online services. There is no difference in rights and reality between men and women. This development success is the resultant of women’s access to information and social participation.
]]> Tue, 19 Jul 2005 03:34:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/26287 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/26005 . When I asked, from where you learn; they say NHK terivi. My Japanese sensei ( teacher ) say, “I have learned vast things from NHK more than my university. It gives me all latest information from Iraq war to stomach problems, cooking to space knowledge…”. NHK is a great example to give the ownership of modern information and technology to the majority people beyond uni-nature ICT, TV’s entertainment and shallow approaches. The photographs has taken from the NHK program about skin and bloods vessels problems and prevention.

More info at http://www.nhk.or.jp ; http://www.nhk.or.jp/english
]]> Mon, 11 Jul 2005 21:42:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/26005 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/25095
After arriving in one top of mountain by Gondola. I impressed to see the beauty. One side looks like moon < geological scenario >, another side marvelous natural forest. The rood has been made by wood slipper. Hundreds of tourist are climbing but don’t pollute/ contaminated anything. Follow the environmental laws with total responsibilities, just like military. In the climbing way, all are conscious to give space to other with common word “ kornichua ( greetings ) , shumimasen/ gomanachie ( please forgive me ) , domo arigatto ( thank you very much ) ”. Nobody over the rood direction of line, even don’t pickup floor or leaves. Try to enjoy with love and appreciation. The take care public things/ matters then that of ownself. In the creast of mountain during take lunch one participant left unconsciously one paper packet , the guide strictly say, “ please pick up this packet in your beg. If we make dirty this environment who will take care it? The environment for us; we have to show responsibility with dignity...”
]]> Sun, 05 Jun 2005 23:49:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/25095 http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/24921
To be Millionaire is not only our desire, but also the most popular quiz based TV program is Japan. Every week one person become millionaire. The Quizzes are not just entertainment based, totally skill and global knowledge. I can not understand all Japanese, but I also watch, and enjoy peoples highest desire. Most interesting moment, when participant fall down from his/her highest desire. The presenter also test physiologically abstractly longtime during ask questions until time finish. During tsunami, one Japan- Maldives couple wined millionaires award and donated that money for tsunami effected peoples …I am impressed to see people original nature, `living for others benefit`.
]]> Sat, 28 May 2005 10:31:00 EDT http://siraj.tigblog.org/post/24921