Jegay Uthar Golpa” Shake the Community

BITA presents 6 theatre show named ‘Jegay Uthar Golpa’ in front of community people at different place of Chanhara and Kaylishore union of Patiya upazila under Chattogram district on May/2019. The show based on issue of TIP, Safe Migration, Child Marriage and also CVE. Approximately 1880 viewers observed these shows, among them 860 were female and 1020 were male. Community people including parents, youth people and local elected body as well as male and female member, teachers, farmers, CTC members, marriage register, potential migrants, journalist and local political persons and peer leaders observed these theatre shows. After the each show Babla Das, Field Officer, Patiya of BC-TIP program tried to received the openion on theatre show while they understood the massage or not. Then the CTC member Mr. Md. Rafiqul Islam (4 no. ward, Chanhara union, Patiya), Ms. Shahin Akter (4, 5 and 6 no. ward, Chanhara union, Patiya) and Mr. Md. Ishaque (2 no. ward,

Kaylishore union, Patiya) expressed their opinion and discussed with on human trafficking, safe migration, 10 steps of safe migration and child marriage issue. They assured the audience to prevent human trafficking, promote safe migration and extremely prevent to child marriage in their territory. After the each show instant evaluation of theatre show performance is taken from the audience

Tobacco sales centers in public places are to be shut in Chittagong City

Foster and promote political commitment from government officials for overall tobacco control measures in Chittagong with a focus on implementing the national ban on point of sale tobacco advertising and promotion including product display

BITA organized an inauguration program of anti-tobacco cultural campaign on 15th April 2019 at Bangabandhu Hall of Chattogram Press Club by the CTFK project. The Chief Guest of the program was honorable Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation Mr. A J M Nasir Uddin. The special guest of the program were Dr Azizur Rahman Siddique, Civil Surgeon, Chittagong, CCC Chief Education Officer Suman Barua, Dr. Shariful Alam, lead consultant, CTFK, Bangladesh, Sisir Dutta, executive director of Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) and S M Nazer Hossain, vice president of the CAB (Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh). In this occasion BITA project team leader presents the status of baseline survey findings where are 84.5% of the observations indicate that advertising and promotion of Tobacco is visible in Chattogram City. Around 76% of total observations indicate that advertising and promotional activities of tobacco are operated either by poster or sine board sticker or banner following 63.08% by Mockup packs of tobacco, 55.74% by box (show case), 44.73% by logo on structure, 3.31% by either discount or coupon, 3.08% by either flyer or leaflet or pamphlet. As status of Tobacco Products Display at Points of Sale 85.10% observations indicates that tobacco products are displayed in point of sales. Around 83% of total POSs (point of Sales) replied that tobaccos are visible on organized shelf following 49.35% in tray, table, or other surface, 8.93% in power wall, 6.11% in hanging display.

As program strategy mass awareness campaign is one of significant intervention where as Kobi Gaan could be a unique media. City Mayor inaugurated the campaign occasionally and said “Smoking in public places will be stopped within the next year. Additionally, all types of tobacco sales centers within 100 yards of public places, including educational intuitions and hospitals—will be shut. “Officers will be assigned to monitor the issue. Additionally, I will personally monitor the issue”. This project is supported by Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK)

Inception meeting of OBIRODH project

Conceptual violence and its obstruction in the field level is a new concept in the world. Conceptual violence creates from the local environment. So its execution is also deposited in the local level and in the local people’s participation. TIE can keep a vital role in this subject. BITA take a project in the 40 school of Chattogram city, Hathazari upazila and Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram district for TIE by the help of USAID and technical help of MSI named OBIRODH Road to tolerance.

The subject of TIE is peace and tolerance. By this time three knowing ceremony organized in Chattogram city, Hathazari upazila and Sitakunda upazila. In these program Professor Prodip Chakraborty, director, secondary and higher education, Chattogram region, Mr. Milton Roy, upazila nirbahi officer, Sitakunda, Mr. Masum Ahmed, associate professor, philosophy department, Chittagong University and Mr.Samsuddin Shishir were present. Also the headmaster and guardian representative of 30 school were present. By this program 3200 students, 80 teacher will able to obstruct the conceptual violence. On the other hand 800 students of 40 youth group able to protect from conceptual violence. 80 teachers will able to engage in cultural program by this project..

Youth are the Power of Future

BITA-BCTIP project played total twelve (12) TIE show (Classroom based theatrical performance) in front of school students of Banigram Sadonpur high school, Sadonpur union, Najimunnesa high scholl, Boilchari union, Nasera Khatun girls high school, Kalipur union of Banshkhali upazila and Ashiya high school, Ashiya union, Ratanpur high school, Kaylishare union, and Azimpur high school, Khorona union of Patiya upazila under Chattogram district. Total 684 viewers including male & female students, teachers, Peer leaders, CTC members & respective persons watched these shows. Children have gathered information on Counter Trafficking & Safe Migration and also Child marriage issue by these interactive theater performance including role play, puppet, drawing, debate & some dramatizing activities.

The presentations made before by students mainly class VIII, IX and X, where 2 local cultural resource persons. The presentation style entangles acting, puppet, debate, song and drawing. After lively presentation, students got the opportunity to provide opinions through specified format. Through presentations, students were encouraged to share knowledge of human trafficking and child marriage and its prevention ways to family members and neighbors in community. They also got suggestion to inform any incident or attempt of trafficking to the relevant agencies so that remedial action could be taken promptly. After the show of each school, project staff of BC-TIP sub grantee BITA and TiE performers as well as peer leaders made courtesy call with Headmaster, senior teachers and also SMC members. They thanks to Winrock International & BITA for uncommon initiative at school students for awareness program on human trafficking and child marriage issues. They wish to success this program & expects that, every school authority of Bangladesh should be needed to organize this show for their student. The Headmaster of Banigram Sadonpur High School said, “Really I am impressed to watch theatre in Education presentation and process by BITA at school level on human trafficking and child marriage issue. Undoubtedly it is two ways learning process through interactive theatre and students well received necessary information by the activity. Human trafficking and child marriage is contemporary issues in our country, it demands sufficient campaign program at community and school level, so I believed that, the way of BITA journey is absolutely on right way. Our school authority and students give special thanks to BITA and Winrock International for tremendous initiative.

Theatre in Education on PVE a new concept

Violence Extremism and its prevention activities at the field level is a new concept in Bangladesh as well as the world. It is created from the local environment and so that its solution lies at local level and local peoples participation. Cultural activities especially Theatre in Education program will play an important role in creating awareness for preventing violence extremism and using safe internet. Students, teachers, parents as well as society should be aware from this activity. Recently BITA take a project in the 20 school of Chattogram city, Hathazari upazila and Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram district for Theatre in Education on PVE issue by the help of USAID’s OBIRODH and technical help of MSI. By this time, BITA-Theatre in Education on PVE project organized 3 days long TIE Performance Development Workshop at BITA Culture & Communication Trust (BCCT), Patiya on 1, 2 & 3 November, 2019

Project Coordinator Bappa Chowdhury conduct this program. All project staff and 7 TIE performers were present there. The main objective of the event was making TIE production, making TIE script, creating TIE pear team message developing on PVE and safer usage of internet. Everyone has learned about Theatre in Education activities, its process, Violence Extremism and its prevention, how to communicate with students in classroom on PVE and safer usage of internet issue by theatre and its importance through this event. Everyone gave an opinion Theatre in Education program could be done with students and teachers as well as parents. This classroom based TIE presentation will be started in January, 2020 in selected schools. It will be presented in the seventh to ninth grade classroom and this TIE presentation will be completed in 35-40 minutes.

Awareness program on human trafficking prevention

Awareness program arranged in Ukhiya, Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar by BCTIP project of BITA. Theatre show arranged for aware the peoples against human trafficking. Demerit of human trafficking were the subject of the theatre. There were track campaign, mobile song, leaflet and booklet distribution in the program.

Create advocacy campaign through Puppet theatre sensitizing urban citizen for Tobacco Free Chattogram City

BITA is implementing a project named “People’s Jubilant Engagement for Tobacco Free Chittagong City” 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. As strategy of the project advocacy through cultural campaign is more of the significant area whereas puppet playing most sensible role. During the project period about 82 puppet shows have been performed covering of 41 city corporation wards in Chattogram City & the form of communication is well excepted & support for citizen sanitization & positive engagement. The contents of the puppet presentation were mass awareness on Tobacco Control Law 2005 & provision of TAPS ban by positive engagement role of citizens.

BITA is implementing a project named “People’s Jubilant Engagement for Tobacco Free Chittagong City” 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. As strategy of the project advocacy through cultural campaign is more of the significant area whereas puppet playing most sensible role. During the project period about 82 puppet shows have been performed covering of 41 city corporation wards in Chattogram City & the form of communication is well excepted & support for citizen sanitization & positive engagement. The contents of the puppet presentation were mass awareness on Tobacco Control Law 2005 & provision of TAPS ban by positive engagement role of citizens. .

Drama can Aware the People to Prevent from Human Trafficking

BITA arranged drama show on prevention of human trafficking in the Ukhiya and Teknaf from its BC/TIP Cox’s Bazar project by the help of Winrok International and USAid. Track campaign, mobile singing, leaflet distribution, booklet distribution are continuing to aware the people about 10 stage of safe migration. BITA arranged mobile campaign theatre at the Rajapalong and Palongkhali of ukhiya upazila and Hoikong, Unchiprang, Mowlovibazar, Hrnila, Leda, Mosli, Jadumora, Domdomia, Bus station, Powrasava, teknaf zero point, sadar, Noakhalipara, Shaparirdip of Teknaf upazila. The subject of the drama was Human trafficking prevention act 2012 and the punishment of human trafficking. People are recognizing about the rules of human trafficking. Child marriage prevention was the another issue of the drama