Protecting Human Rights Message from Executive Director...

E-NEWS LETTER-ISSUE: 3 1

website: www.bitactg.org

Message from Executive Director

With a busy start off of the year we are delighted to welcome

you again for the acceptance of our E- Newsletter- 3rd issue. We

would please to hear your feedback about our newsletter so

that we can continue to improve it Your suggestions were

undeniably helps us for the improvement of our newsletter.

Therefore, I humbly encourage all of you to make use of this

platform to remain connected with us. Let me reiterate that we

welcome all contributions so that we can make this e-newsletter

a place for our collective voices.

The purpose of this E-Newsletter is to inspire readers to become

more involved with us and know about our works . We welcome

your ideas and feedback, so please email us at:

[email protected] can also stay connected with us

through our website: www.bitactg.org

We are always open to your new and creative ideas and try to

accomodate as much as possible.

Sisir Dutta

Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA)

Issue 3

IN THIS ISSUE

Protecting Human Rights programme on Domestic Violence

National Seminar on Exposition of Traditional Musical Instruments

German Ambassador’s Visit to BITA

Job fair & Exhibition on Handmade Products

Attend IDEA Congress Meeting in PARIS

Local Government initiative of BITA-SDLG

Tax Fair

Internship in ASA south north program

Puppet: An Alternative Approach of Communication

Youth Access to skill Based Training for Exploring Employment Opportunity

Child Sexual Abuse, Exploitation & Trafficking in Bandarban

Executive Director Visited Germany

June-September 2013


Improve the quality of advocacy for adoption and

enforcement of key DV and Human Rights

Legislation and policies

Improve mutual understanding and effectiveness

between key factors involved in reducing violence

and strengthening other interwoven HR.

Increase access to and willingness of survivors to

seek justice through formal and informal sectors.

Expand immediate and longer term support to

survivors of DV.

Increase awareness of DV and related HR issues at

the national and local levels.

A view of Programme Participants

BITA started the 2nd phase of Protecting Human Rights (PHR) program funded by USAID with assistance

of Plan Bangladesh from July 2013 to December 2014 in 7 unions of Patiya. The major aspiration of PHR is

to reduce the high prevalence of domestic violence and other related human rights violations (including,

but not limited to, child marriage, anti-stalking, dowry, physical humiliation, torture, trafficking, rape, and

child abduction) in pre-determined targeted areas of Bangladesh.

Protecting Human Rights programme on Domestic Violence

Five Component of Activity Coverage

Capacity Building

Advocacy

Access to Justice

Survivor Services & Mass awareness

Educational Campaign

Area Coverage

Kharona Union

Kachuai Union

Chhonhora Union

Vatikhain Union

Dakkin Burshi Union

Shovandondi Union

Junglekhain Union

Program Objectives

http://www.facebook.com/GermanEmbassyDhaka


National seminar on ‘‘Exposition of traditional Musical Instruments and Musical History to the Youth”

was held at the Seminar room of the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of the Dhaka University on 30th

August,2013,Friday. The Honorable Ambassador of Royal Norwegian Embassy to Bangladesh Ms. Ragne Brite

Lund, was the chief guest. Executive Director of BITA Mr. Sisir Dutta Presided over the programme

The Event was organized as part of the programme by the Norwegian Embassy and Concert Norway, to

document preserve and display of traditional instruments. A group of musicians from rural area of Bikrampur

performed traditional instrumental music before the audience of the Seminar. In his inaugural address Dr. A A

M S Arefin Siddique, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University expressed regrets that the younger generation could

not use the traditional musical instrument due to lack of patronization and thus the transfer of intellectual

property from generation to generation was being hampered. Dhaka university Guest lecturer of Music

Department Dr. Sayeem Rana presented a research paper at the seminar. And the research finding will be use

as bench mark in designing live music for youth.

Norwegian ambassador Ms. Ragne Brite Lund, in her speech urged universities, Private and public institutions

to come forward and preserve the powerful and culturally rich musical instruments that are an indispensable

part of Bengali Culture. The open discussion on the research paper was attended by Ahmed Mazhar, Dr. Abdul

Wahab, Bhaswar Bandopadhyay, Ahmed Habib, Simon Zakaria and other academicians and cultural

personalities and conducted by Professor Dr. Israfil Shaheen, Theatre Department of Dhaka University.

Chief Guest presided over the programme presentation

A Glimpse of Programme Participants instruments

National Seminar on Exposition of Traditional Musical Instruments



Honorable German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr.

Albrecht Conze visited BITA activities accompanied with

Mrs. Conze on 22 Sept’13 at BCCT (BITA Culture &

Communication Trust), Chittagong. BITA Grassroots

Dhol Playing group welcomed the visiting team after

arrival at BCCT through melodious Dhol performance.

Later the Ambassador along with his wife met with BITA

Executive Committee and staff. Director (Policy &

Collaboration) Mousumi Chowdhury shared the future

plan and strategies of BITA to the Honorable

Ambassador. The Honorable Ambassador was also

informed about the organization’s initiatives and

experiences focusing the generous support of German

government and institutions. The honorable

Ambassador Remarks culture can change the world

when practiced with harmony and tolerance, and

assured to continue the support to BITA. BITA’s

Executive Committee Vice President Kamal Sengupta,

Member Abdus Salam Adu and staff of different levels

were present during the visiting of German

Ambassador. The Honorable Ambassador was

impressed to see TFD Resource Centre which projects

cultural variations and modalities relating to theatre &

arts. Afterward the Honorable Ambassador and his

team enjoyed the cultural presentations in enthusiastic

feeling. The performances include Marma folk dance

performed by Ethnic Cultural Group of Bandarban,

puppet show by BITA Adolescents Group and theatre

“Kalo Chand (Spotted Moon)” by BITA Cultural

Resource Team.

German Ambassador’s Visit to BITA

Culture can change the world

German Ambassador along with his wife & BITA officials

German Ambassador with BITA Cultural Resource Team


Engaging with livelihood related activities deprive the children & youth of Bandarban from enjoying

their rights and entitlements. Again youth of Bandanban have potency of creation and production but lack

in opportunities that derailed from normal life in most cases. In this regard BITA with the support with Save

the Children & IKEA Foundation has undertaken initiatives to boost up proficiency & involvement of the

youth in the area of agriculture, arts & fashion and handicrafts adopting group approach. BITA with the

support of Save the Children & financed by IKEA foundation organized a Job fair & Exhibition on Handmade

Product title “One Village One Product” in Brac Center Inn, Mohakhali. Executive Director of BITA Mr. Sisir

Dutta anchored the programme while renowned Textile, Crafts, Fashion Designer & Researcher Mr.

Chandrashekhor Saha & Ms. Shahida Begum, Programme Director of Education for Youth, Save the

Children was presented as Chief Guest & Special Guest respectively.

The speakers expressed their complement to BITA for these initiations & added that “one village one

product” will become a creative chain of value addition in terms of cultural, social, political and economical

aspects. It’s an exquisite exercise to have deeper sights about own resources and mechanism to magnifying

the resources keeping cultural identity to be well adept in the challenging world. So the youth have space of

education comprising culture, technical & vocational expertise leading to decent employment opportunities

as well as empowerment. Good practices and lesson learned documentation could play vital role to

reinforce and innovate new livelihood opportunities of youth in the long run.

Later on a process documentary video were presented in front of the audience based on the product

making of ethnic boys & girls. Participants from different artist, embassy representatives, Development

activists, artists visited the fair & praised the handmade products & BITA initiatives.

Fair Inauguration by Chandrashekhor Saha

A view of Programme Participants

Job fair & Exhibition on Handmade Products



Executive Director of BITA with newly elected IDEA President & Secretary

The IDEA World Congress alternately taking place in the northern and southern hemispheres is organized every

three years by a member of the IDEA association, after being nominated and elected by the delegates at the General

Council Meeting. The world conferences on arts education organized by UNESCO in 2006 in Lisbon and in 2010 in

Seoul highlighted those educational policies throughout the world need to ensure that arts and culture are given

high status. This context of global crisis and considerable evolution forces the organizers to invent new educational

methods and new shared stories, through which values such as solidarity, creativity, a culture of community rather

than domination, and empathy will become the resources and the treasures of the women and men of tomorrow.

An art of presence and speech, a hybrid art which invites all other forms of art, a collective art, an art of rituals and

symbolization: drama offers one of the most powerful ways to achieve these goals and to

improve both our knowledge of the world and self-knowledge. So the

vibrant task is to build a successful congress

together and create an

international momentum that

will celebrate the increased

stature of children and young

people through drama. As a voting

partner Mr. Sisir Dutta, Executive

director of BITA attended different

sessions in the meeting in Paris. Later

on in different issues: How can

Drama/Theatre and Education practices

become transformative learning

processes, an embodied approach:

establishing a dialogue between

neuroscience and arts education were

discussed in that meeting. Beside that a consultation meeting was held up on how to elaborate IDEA network in

south Asia Region with the newly elected president & secretary. Some recommendations were derived on how to

create its importance to Young people through theatre initiative. Participants from International Drama/Theater and

Education Association, volunteers, renowned theatre activists across the globe participated in that meeting.

Attend IDEA Congress Meeting in PARIS


BITA has undertaken initiative to strengthen local government units under the purview of SDLG

(Strengthening Democratic Local Governance)’ project in Laksmipur & Chandpur districts supported by

Tetra Tech ARD & financed by USAID. The project interventions focused to enhance capacity of elected

local government representatives including secretaries and common citizen in the area of financial

management & revenue generation, participatory strategic planning, service delivery and monitoring, role

of CIG and community need prioritization. Having trained & motivated on these arena, the LGUs

organized first ever open budget meeting for the fiscal year 2013 – 2014 as per guidelines of Local

Government Act 2009 in 16 unions of in Laksmipur and 19 unions & 2 Pourashavas of Chandpur district.

The open budget meetings held with the exciting participation of people resulting in incorporating the

community needs and demands in the LGUs plan.

The Open budget meetings were chaired by UP Chairmen/Pourashva Mayor and in absence panel

chairmen. The open budget meetings were attended by people of all walks including media people,

teachers, religious leaders, political leaders, social workers, cultural workers, representatives from

government & non-government organizations, CIG Forum members, civil society people, local elites and

common people.

Local Government initiative of BITA-SDLG

Discussion Going on in Open Budget A Glimpse of Programme Participants


2 no Dakkin Hamchhadi union is one of the working LGUs of BITA_SDLG project situates in Lakshmipur Sadar

Upazila in Lakshmipur district. The elected representatives of union parishad trained on “Financial Management &

Revenue Generation’ where they developed action plan to generate local resources under their jurisdiction. In

progress, the union parishad organized the 4-day-long Tax Fair 2013 from 28 Sept’13 to 1 Oct’13 in cooperation

with CIG Forum. The tax fair held in three locations – Nandanpur Bazar, Gopinathpur Primary School, Palerhat

Bazar- hoisting banner and placing desk. All the people including chairman, UP members & CIG members deposit

holding tax & other relevant taxes including default taxes to the collectors and received acknowledgement

receipts. In the fair, UP Members and CIG Forum members motivated the common people to pay holding tax

regularly. They made door to door campaign and collected trade fee from the traders who didn’t pay tax timely.

Through the tax fair a total of 35,220/- (Thirty five thousand two hundred twenty taka) accumulated. Capitalizing

the effectiveness of this joint initiative, the UP representatives decided to organize further tax fair in the last week

of October’13. UP representatives and common people are hopeful to collect tax with people’s cooperation that

could be utilized to materialize desired development initiatives in the union.

An old Women providing Holding tax CIG member is providing Tax

People in the Tax fair

Tax Fair


All ASA participants 2013

School Performance in Berlin

ASA program is a global learning

process of development. ASA program

has created an opportunity among the

participants of North and South to

exchange different policies,

stages/phases, and formulas of global

development by inspiring them for

sustainable development. ASA South-

North program is providing three-month

long internship in the north phase and

another three-month long internship in

the south phase. Participants of these two internship phases are getting chances for inter-cultural

exchange to work on specific projects.

As Bangladeshi participants of ASA South-North program’s south phase, BITA selected two of its cultural

activists Bappa Chowdhury and Mahafuza Akter Nasreen to take part in internship at Grips Theatre of

Berlin, Germany in ASA South-North project, Theatre goes political : Water issue from a global

perspective. This internship provided them

the rare opportunity of getting an idea about

different forms of theatres, theatre process,

German culture and of mixing with real

German people. Knowledge and Ideas were

shared in different contemporary issues in the

nature of German development, climate,

water were shared & analyzed from global

perspective. This ASA programme will be

helpful for the young generation to build a

resilient community through inter-exchange

of culture & arts. This global connection connectivity will make the global learning process even richer.

BITA & ASA south north Collaboration


A Glimpse of Programme Participants

BITA has been working at Bandarban, in Chittagong Hill Tracts since 2002 to promoting Child Right. The

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) has been the home to eleven indigenous ethnic peoples. The indigenous children at CHT

are distinct and different in respect of race, language, culture, heritage and religion. BITA considered searching for

traditional and customary practice of arts and taking effective steps for complete revival & take steps to create

awareness among the women and children

of under-privileged population about their

rights and responsibilities through proper

utilization of different discipline of

‘performing arts’.

BITA observe closely that in CHT ensuring

child Right is challenging due to lack of

information, lack of appropriate media &

tools for expression, absence of cultural

interaction among children. In fact, to

aware the people there is no strong

alternative do exist except cultural tools. BITA had been seeking different alternative communication means for

disseminating messages amongst the hilly people. In the year of 2005, BITA organized a community based capacity

development workshop of puppet production process on child right issue namely “ACHING”. In this production, the

children and adolescents were actively participated in every step up to final performance.

This alternative media opened a window for exploring children’s

communication capacity & participation by using natural resource

elements, wastage products traditional sound & music. By this time it

has proved that Puppet would be the best communication means for

creating a social movement. Based on that experience BITA

developed a puppet theatre making process based manual for

children. This workshop has designed for 8 days long residential

working about 50 hours for Adolescent & Youth. In the manual 27

sessions has been incorporated Children will be capacitated

them self by using that alternative communication tools. Now

Children are disseminating the message about CSA issue,

identify the perpetrators, what will be the roles of parents, community

people and other duty bearers for protecting children from violence. SC

(Save the Children) recognized the method to its global tools.

BITA Puppet Module recognized by Save the Children


Youths are the most important sector to make decision of all productive segment of total population in Bangladesh. As

per national youth policy the age group of 18-35 years is considered to be youth. The one third of the total population

and estimated to be around fifty million. They are most of illiterate and have from employment and Non-Government

organizations focused on youth development in order to address youth related problems. Access to different skill of the

youth can improve the economic condition and contribute in the existing situation of youth at the community. National

development pivotally depends on their active participation in self reliant initiatives. Self employment enterprise in

being materialized through skill development training, motivation, group formation, credit and input support, close

supervision, technical advice and development of marketing activities.

According to the cabinet approval the updated National Youth Policy in the year of 2003 and the ongoing youth

programs are being implemented in the light of approve National Youth Policy. Te registering of the youth clubs by the

Department of youth development is yet to be implemented. In practical field we found there are no registered youth

club for recreation of youths that could contract their good aims and responsibility for boosting up the youth community

in study area. Under the NSA project Participates and concerned community members gained available information

related to essential services like food, agriculture, education, health, employment, law & justice etc. by the connection of

also found that at least 20% increased participation by the target group in government safety nets food security schemes

and private sector employment achieve in target area at the time of discussion with the beneficiary by the study team

and the human development strategy of the sixth plan has focused on these inclusive and holistic aspects in the design

of strategies, policies and programs in Chittagong city beneficiary under UDC and NSA project.

For further details please communicate in the prescribed mail: [email protected]

Youth Access to skill Based Training for Exploring Employment Opportunity

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BITA implements the project named “Participatory Community Development through Cultural Initiatives”

with the support of SC (Save the Children) aims to protect ethnic children from Child Sexual Abuse, Exploitation

and Trafficking. By making thematic program understanding a Situation analysis have been conducted with data

collected from 3 ethnic groups from three unions of the project working area under Bandarban Sadar and

Rowangchhari upazilas of Bandarban district. Besides, Focused Group Discussion (FGD) sessions and Key

Informant Interviews (KIIs) with community leaders, potential institutions, GO’s, NGO’s, Parents, children and

youths have also been carried out to collect qualitative data/information. The consultant team has carried out in-

depth study and analyzes the existing situations in terms of Child Prevention and Protection Context regarding

sexual abuse and exploitation as well as the current implementing and operating arena of the project, knowledge

and information level based on secondary information and primary data of surveys and focused group

discussions and skill test. Of the survey households, data were collected from 3 ethnic groups’ children. Data

suggests that around 48% of the households are Marma community followed by Tanchangya (28%), and Bawn

(24%). The total sampled households are 176. Of them 469 (51.26%) and 977 (49.74%) are male and female,

respectively. The number of females per 100 males of the total population is 99. During the survey the data was

collected from 87 boys (49% of Sampled Size) and 89 Girls (51%). The major finding of the study was proves that

the education revolution has been setting out from last 12 years in this locality. Parents & Community have less

capacity to deal with child protection issue especially in child sexual abuse and harassment. The people of CHT

are not conscious about health issues generally. The below rate of literacy and less accessibility affect the health

awareness. The survey reveals that only 7% households have the sanitary latrine. Children are informed about

the rights of children. 25% respondent children from sample size are watching/using the pornography. from

sample size 39% children informed that they have experienced eve-teasing in the mean time by their friends,

senior children of community, general people, Taxi, Truck, and Bus Driver usually.171 children from the sampled

size informed that they know about trafficking. Children have a limited scope of expressing their views in their

family and institutions as well. The sampled children belongs poor information and knowledge about the sections

of CRC and other programmes, protocols and conventions. On the basis of the field situations some

programming scopes have also been identified on develop Language based IEC materials, Child girls scholarship

could be introduced to reduce drop out and promote continuity in education, TVET will be able to increase the

functional competencies of children, adolescents and youth groups, Union Parishad, traditional & religious

leaders should be involved with program intervention. Program should be developed where professionals

(police, lawyer, physician and journalist) could be involved with community & developing a set of cultural tools

and performing arts materials for disseminating the information and knowledge. This Situation Analysis has been

conducted by RIDS (Responsive to Integrated Development Services)

For further details please communicate in the prescribed mail: [email protected]

Mobilizing community against Child Sexual Abuse, Exploitation & Trafficking in Bandarban

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Discussion with GRIPS & BITA

Executive Director with BITA Staff & Theatre Activist of GRIPS Theatre

Executive Director with Gregor Enste

Executive Director of BITA Sisir Dutta visited Germany with an invitation of GRIPS theatre in Germany where he discussed with different cultural activists. Here is a glimpse of his GREMAN tour

While Germany voyage with the invitation Mr. Gregor Enste, Department Head, Foreign & Security Policy, Executive Director Mr. Sisir Dutta visited Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF). HBF is the organization which directly helped BITA in Foundation & initiation from its inauguration from 1995 to 2004. HBF helped BITA in Organization Development, Program and conceptual framework development, Human resource development & Infrastructure development for residency theatre. In that exchange meeting Executive Director shared about the future plan & new innovation about BITA & BITA residency theatre.

Executive Director visited GRIPS theatre who generally works with the water issue through their world wide campaign. Besides that he also discussed how to enhance the Euro-Asia cooperation through Theatre in Education programme with street children & how to replicate it from the experienced based learning

Executive Director also visited Schloss Brollian-International Arts Research Location which is the Largest Performing Arts in residency theatre institute in Europe. Founder of Schloss Brollian invited Sisir Dutta in the International Arts Research Location. Later on in a

discussion session they shaped the future plan on how to enhance the Asia-Europe collaboration in Residency Theatre

In a discussion session with The Puppen Theatre officials of Magdeburg Executive Director finalize the schedule of Puppet specialist & share the puppet expertise of BITA with them. Beside that initiative were taken to popularize puppet in community, Puppet school in Ethnic community with ethnic children & a complete package of Puppet production.

With the invitation of Thomas Aangle Executive Director visited International Theatre Institute (ITI) center in Germany. ITI Germany now working in climate change issue from Global perspective. Later on in a discussion meeting Knowledge and Ideas were shared in different contemporary issues like climate, water & analyzed from global perspective. Executive Director provided his consent to work for building a resilient community through inter-exchange of culture & arts with ITI officials from global climate change context.

A consultation meeting was held with the Engagement Global about South –south cooperation. The major concern of the meeting was to enlarge the programme & evaluate the performance of the two volunteer & future expansions of the programme

Executive Director Visited Germany

Schloss Brollian- An International Arts Research Location

Visit the Puppen Theatre of Magdeburg

ITI Germany center visit

Meeting with Global Engagement

HBF visit:


Date of Publication: 10th October 2013

Compose & Design: Mrinmoy Mohajan, Project Coordinator, BITA

Contact Person Sisir Dutta, Executive Director, Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) E-mail: [email protected] Cell No: +88 01711845996 Mousumi Chowdhury, Director Policy & Collaboration Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) E-mail: [email protected] Cell No: +88 01711150322

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: 031-618562 Fax No: 031-610262

E-mail: [email protected], website: www.bitactg.org

Upcoming Event

Training on Human Rights under Life project

Workshop on Theatre Practice & presentation

ARTEN Regional meeting in Guahati

Theatre for development Workshop

Joint initiative of German Internee & Action Aid Inspirator- Febbi Imbula with BITA

Annual General Meeting in December

Research Report Publication on Traditional Musical instruments & History to Youths

mailto:[email protected]



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