Unheard Voices

Saswoto Satya: Walking The Path Of Dreams
Prof. A Al Mamun, Rajshahi University

After a long time, I was surprised by my first year journalism class. The subject was the history of the printing industry. Every now and then I would ask questions—day one, day two, day three. My experience of last few years has really robbed me of hope. The new generation has just completely given up on education. I ask, have you read the Mahabharata? I get the reply, no sir I haven’t. Sometimes, someone will say, sir, but I saw the serial on TV. Even though I have stopped hoping, I still ask these questions during a lecture. Out of habit, almost mechanical, without really waiting for an answer.

But this year I was stunned, there was one boy who did know the answers. All the answers. I asked, where was paper invented, he replied, China. I asked who invented modern printing and where is he from—I got the reply, Johannes Gutenberg, from Germany’s Mainz. Have you read Tagore’s novels? Yes sir, I have. Have you read Manik? Yes sir, I have read some of it. My eyes go back repeatedly to this one bright student. (more…)

Internship Programme: ‘Fera’

Fera, branching off from Drishtipat, is an internship programme that gives young expatriate Bangladeshis an opportunity to play an active role in contributing to public service in Bangladesh. Ultimately, Fera serves to offer the young people of the Bangladeshi Diaspora a greater understanding of Bangladesh.

Many organisations in Bangladesh are short staffed and are in need of additional human capital. In addition to fulfilling this service, Fera allows non-resident second generation Bangladeshis (NRBs), who are strongly interested in learning more about Bangladesh, to familiarise themselves about pressing issues in the country. Given their international education and experience, the interns will be able to provide fresh perspective and infuse their ideas into the organisation while gaining valuable experience by working in the country.

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Drishtipat would like to announce the beginning of the Drishtipat Challenge 2008. Drishtipat believes that a robust economy is an essential factor in promoting human rights and social development. Accordingly, through this business development Challenge, now entering its second year, Drishtipat seeks to create employment opportunities by funding promising small businesses.
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It is perhaps an understatement to say that 2007 has been the most eventful year for Bangladesh since at least 1975. Even in such a year, rising food prices stand out as a problem that, if left unresolved, could derail all political calculations and spell disaster for the country in 2008. In this post, I point to a global cause behind rising food prices that needs co-ordinated attention of activists and policymakers.

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“I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words… When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly disrespectful and unrestrained.”

Overheard at the Dhaka Club? Two retired colonels strolling through a park perhaps? An op-ed writer in the Daily Star? No, this quotation, from the Greek poet Hesiod, is just a little older than that. It dates back 2700 years in fact, and just goes to show how bemoaning the youth of today is an ancient and established custom. Much later, a mere two and a half thousand years ago, Socrates is said to have echoed these thoughts, in the following passage attributed to him:

“The young now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect to their elders…. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and are tyrants over their teachers… They talk as if they alone knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them.”

Now Hesiod and Socrates have many advantages over your correspondent, whose words are unlikely to be read two and a half weeks from now, let alone two and a half millennia, but they suffer by comparison in one vital respect: they weren’t at the recent launch of the magazine “Voices of Hope”, and I was. If they had been, they might well have reconsidered their opinion about the youth of today, as there they would have met a highly impressive group of youngsters who are committed to making a difference and to shaping a better world, starting right here at home.

Read more here

For Immediate Release
November 28, 2007

SIDR VICTIMS’ COMPENSATION FUND

The United Bangladesh Appeal is pleased to announce the formation and launch of a $500,000 compensation fund for families of the victims of hurricane Sidr, a Category 4 hurricane that devastated southwestern Bangladesh on November 15. With wind speeds exceeding 250 kmh (155 mph), the storm and its accompanying surge killed over 3,200 individuals and another 1,800 are feared missing. Damage to crops, livestock and property is expected to run into billions of US dollars. Over 7 million Bangladeshis are suffering from the immediate aftermath of Sidr.

Modeled after the 911 Fund, the Sidr Victims’ Compensation Fund intends to make a cash payment of approximately $100 per fatality to surviving family members. Only direct family members such as spouses, children, parents and siblings are eligible beneficiaries, and funds will be delivered to the closest surviving female head of household. The fundraising is being conducted by Bangladeshi expatriate groups that have come together under the umbrella of the United Bangladesh Appeal for this purpose. Already these groups have pledged almost $200,000 for the fund. Partner organizations in Bangladesh will compile a detailed list of the victims and their respective beneficiaries. Both sets of organizations will come together for the actual distribution of funds. Donated funds may not be used for any purpose other than to compensate Sidr victims. All administrative, organizational and incidental costs will be borne by the partner organizations. For more
information including how to donate to the Sidr Victims’ Compensation Fund, please visit http://www.unitedbangladeshappeal.org.

United Bangladesh Appeal is an internet-based umbrella organization created to unify the numerous expatriate Bangladeshi groups under a common goal in times of crisis or need.

visit http://www.unitedbangladeshappeal.org.
Contact:
United Bangladesh Appeal info@unitedbangladeshappeal.org
Global Coordinator: Muhit Rahman, 513-561-0914, Muhit@cinci.rr.com
London : Asif Saleh asif.saleh AT gmail.com
New York : Rasheq Rahman, rasheq.rahman AT gmail.com
Chicago : Rafiq Ahmed rahmed111 AT comcast.net
Madison , WI : Rumi Ahmed rumi.ahmed AT gmail.com
Boston : Mridul Chowdhury mridulch AT gmail.com
Toronto : Nuzhat Rehman nuzhat.rehman AT gmail.com

Like everyone else, our Drishtipat network is keeping busy. The following are some highlights. Upcoming event details will be there shortly. Other than the ones mentioned below, there are loads of people all around the world who are coming together in the aid. But above and foremost a HUGE THANKS goes to all those relief workers, volunteers, administration people and armed forces people who are working round the clock around the disaster zone. Thank you folks!! We owe you one.

You can find it here

* People who are considering short term vs long term relief. We hope you do both. But the foreign aid organizations like unesco et al have already reached their targetted goal. We are still recommending BRAC for short term relief. If you have other interests or want to donate to a local NGO, please contact us at blog At drishtipat dot org. Details here.
For long term relief, various organizations around the world have created together the United Bangladesh Appeal, a compensation fund, specifically created to aid the deceased family. You can donate here

* On the print media, two important pieces:

**DP-Londoner Tahmima Anam in Guardian questions the world conscience about the role of global warming in sidr.

**Another piece by Anisul Hoque of Prothom Alo which was translated by me for a wider audience to highlight the need of coordination and equal distribution of relief rather than more fundraising in Dhaka. More participation from the common folks is urgent.

Those of you who are wondering what to donate other than cash, DP London member and disaster management expert Zia Choudhury comes to the resecue with the following useful info.

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BRAC - the largest NGO in the world from Bangladesh

Drishtipat effort for two local organizations with low overhead fee

The International Federation of the Red Cross (You can select Cyclone SIDR)

British Red Cross [ tax efficient donation for people living in uk]

Canadian Red Cross

UNICEF

CARE

Islamic Relief

Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal - World Vision UK (You can select Cyclone SIDR) Tel: 0800 088 088

Save the Children

Christian Aid

Catholic Relief Services

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FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN BANGLADESH AND ALL OVER THE WORLD
********************************************
Those who wish to help, may remit cash directly to the following account :

Chief Adviser’s Relief and Welfare Fund,
Current Account No. 33004093,
Sonali Bank, Prime Minister’s Office Branch,
Tejgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
SWIFT Code : BSONBDDH

Ref: Chief Advisor’s Office Website and Bangladesh High Commission to Canada Website

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FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN AUSTRALIA
*********************************************
Bangladesh High Commission ,Canberra
Account Name: Relief Fund
Account Number: 032729 199161
Bank: Westpac Banking Corporation
Branch: Manuka, ACT

ref: Press release on flood relief

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As the news has started to trickle down from the southern part of Bangladesh, things are not looking very good. The loss of life, although limited compared to the past two big cyclones, the damages to property and people’s livelihood. Sometimes you have to wonder why our country can never get a break. Yet, we fight on and move ahead. This time it may not be so easy for the millions of people in Southern Bangladesh. Spare a thought for the villagers we rehabilitated in Annadaprasad in Bhola. God knows where are they now.

Please pull in your resources to the best you can to donate and mobilize public opinion.

* I will host a page in DP with links to various organizations raising funds from Sidr.

* You can also send your check to Drishtipat, added benefit will be that, if you have corporate matching, program, the donation will double. This is time to pull in your resources.

* You can help by mass publicizing and also alerting people in the western media. It is important to alert the world media as much as possible because that will bring in the aid and international response. Dia from Drishtipat NY is helping CNN reporter to get to the affected. Thanks Dia.

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The young girl thrusts the exercise book into my hand and stands beaming to attention. She is proud of the picture she has drawn, depicting an idyllic scene in which children play freely, outside a brightly-coloured house, set among bird-dotted ponds and tall trees. Hills undulate in the distance as the sun sets in a blaze of yellow and red. It is an image characterised above all by its sense of space, of untroubled and unconstrained freedom. An unremarkable picture, you might think, for a child to draw: just what you might expect. Until you consider the task the children have been set, in which they were quite clearly told to draw what they dream of in their future life, and the fact that this girl is another survivor from the BNWLA Hostel, whose experience and inner life up till now have been a world away from this scene of bucolic calm. For her and her fellow survivors, this scenario is indeed nothing more, at the moment, than a distant dream.

As part of our campaign to promote the profile of the Hostel Appeal, and to raise funds for the proposed new shelter home, a group of supporters have travelled to Gazipur to see the site where it is to be built. We’re accompanied by eight children from the existing shelter, an adapted old people’s home in central Dhaka. With us are some of the BNWLA programme staff and a VSO Volunteer from the Philippines, Jenny Gevela, who has been the main force behind organising this day out.

Read more here

Our concert last week, to raise money for the BNWLA Hostel Appeal, was a huge success and has received rave reviews, and not only from us… We raised over GBP 1100 for the appeal.

It was broadcast live on Radio Foorti, and certain songs will be played for the next week along with further appeals to donate through sms. In addition, Channel i are making a 25-minute programme on it, beginning with an excerpt from a speech by the President of BNWLA Fauzia Karim.

Click on the image below for a superb collection of photographs by our good friend Arif Hafiz.

East Meets West

Do you want to be present at a unique musical event that fuses the sound of Bangladesh’s best singer/songwriter with the cool tones of soprano saxophone? Then here’s your chance!

Tickets for the ground-breaking East Meets West Benefit Concert at 8pm on September 6th 2007, with internationally-acclaimed Bangladeshi singer/songwriter Arnob and Welsh sax player Andrew Morris are now on sale at Heritage Restaurant, Road 109, Gulshan.

All proceeds of this concert will go to the BNWLA Hostel Appeal. Please visit www.bnwlahostel.org for more information.

Call 8829359 or 01711 541441 or go in person to book your seats now. Tickets are being sold individually or for parties of up to 10 guests per table. Book early if you want a seat with a good view of the stage!

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Bangladesh in facing one of the worst floods in recent history. As government has called for help from home and abroad, join the efforts worldwide, including Drishtipat’s, in the aid of flood affected people of Bangladesh. For US donors, donation to drishtipat is tax deductible.

Click here to donate or to find out about all the different initiatives.

http://www.drishtipat.org/flood

Sirajganj and other northern districts of Bangladesh have been marooned by the deluge caused by snow melt and monsoon rains carried downstream from India by the mighty Jamuna river.(AFP/A T M Rezwan)

Also check this video

Latest News on Flood

We have redesigned the website for this appeal. Please visit www.bnwlahostel.org and feel free to donate!For news and updates, you can now link to the campaign blog from the site.

গ্লোবাল ভয়েসেস অনলাইন (একটি অলাভজনক সিটিজেন মিডিয়া প্রজেক্ট) বিশ্বের উন্নয়নশীল দেশগুলোতে সিটিজেন মিডিয়া টুলগুলো প্রসারের জন্যে ‘রাইজিং ভয়েসেস’ নামক প্রকল্প গঠন করেছে। বাংলাদেশসহ অনেক উন্নয়নশীল দেশে ইন্টারনেট ক্রমান্বয়ে সহজলভ্য ও জনপ্রিয় হয়ে উঠছে। কিন্তু অনেকেই ব্লগিং, ভিডিও ব্লগিং এবং পডকাস্টিং জাতীয় টুলগুলোর সুবিধা বা এগুলো কিভাবে সহজে ব্যবহার করা যায় সে সম্পর্কে জানেননা।

এক জন/দল আদর্শ প্রক্লপ প্রস্তাবকারী সেইসব স্পেসিফিক কমিউনিটিগুলোকে এই জাতীয় নাগরিক সাংবাদিকতার টেকনিকগুলো শেখানোর জন্য বিস্তারিত ও উদ্ভাবনমুলক পদ্ধতির প্রয়োগ করবেন। ইন্টারনেট ক্রমশ: সহজলভ্য ও সাধারন মানুষের আয়ত্বের মধ্যে চলে আসছে, কম্পিউটারের মুল্য কমছে, এবং প্রয়োগমুলক সফটওয়্যার ডেস্কটপ থেকে ওয়েবে স্থানান্তরিত হচ্ছে – যা তথাকথিত ডিজিডাল ডিভাইডকে সন্কুচিত করতে সাহায্য করছে। কিন্তু এর বদলে আমরা পাচ্ছি ‘অংশগ্রহনের শুন্যতা‘ (participation gap) যেখানে বেশীরভাগ ব্লগ, পডকাস্ট এবং ভিডিও কনটেন্ট তৈরি করছে বিশ্বের বড় শহরগুলো থেকে মধ্যবিত্ত নাগরিকদের কমিউনিটি।

‘রাইজিং ভয়েসেস’ এর লক্ষ্য হচ্ছে নতুন নতুন কমিউনিটি থেকে নতুন কন্ঠগুলোকে ওয়েবের আলাপে (conversational web) নিয়ে আসা। এর জন্য ‘রাইজিং ভয়েসেস’ স্থানীয় ব্যক্তি/গোষ্ঠীকে অর্থ ও অন্যান্য সাহায্য করতে প্রস্তুত যারা এইসব স্বল্প প্রতিনিধিত্বকারী কমিউনিটি নিয়ে কাজ করবে। ‘রাইজিং ভয়েসেস’ ব্লগ প্রসার প্রকল্পের অনুদান হবে ১০০০ -৫০০০ ইউ এস ডলার।

সম্ভাব্য প্রকল্পের উদাহরন হচ্ছে:

* একটি স্বল্পমুল্যের ডিজিটাল ভিডিও ক্যামেরা কিনে গ্রামের কিছু ছাত্রদের শেখানো কিভাবে তাদের দাদা-দাদী বা নানা-নানীর জীবন নিয়ে একটি ভিডিও ডকুমেন্টারী করা যায়।

* এতিমখানায় ব্লগিং এবং ফটোগ্রাফী নিয়ে একটি রেগুলার ওয়ার্কশপ করা। প্রকল্পের বাজেটের অর্থ দ্বারা স্বল্পমুল্যের ডিজিটাল ক্যামেরা কেনা এবং ইন্টারনেট ক্যাফে ব্যবহারের খরচ মেটানো যাবে। এর ফলে এতিমখানার ছেলেমেয়েরা বিশ্বের পাঠকদের কাছে তাদের কথা/চিত্র তুলে ধরতে পারবে।

* একটি স্থানীয় এনজিও/সামাজিক সংস্থার সাথে কাজ করা ও তাদের প্রশিক্ষন দেয়া যাতে তারা তাদের দৃষ্টান্তমুলক কাজগুলো বিশ্বের কাছে তুলে ধরতে পারে।

বিস্তারিত জানতে এখান থেকে পড়ুন।

আবেদনের শেষ সময় আগামী ১৫ই জুন।