Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) bitactg@gmail.com Issue 1 January February 2013 A Message from BITA, Executive Director IN THIS ISSUE 1. A message from Executive Director, Sisir Dutta 2. Puppet Show 3. One Billion Raising Program 4. Youth Fair 5. BITA signs MOU with Ministry of Youth Department, Chittagong 6. Norwegian music in port city 7. German Embassy Dhaka & BITA Co operation 8. ARTEN Meeting 9. BITA ARTEN Bandit Queen BITA Coordination Office Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) 753 Mehedibag, Chittagong, Bangladesh Tell: 031-618562 E-mail: bitactg@gmail.com It is my pleasure to present you our first E- Newsletter from Bangladesh institute of Theatre Arts (BITA).This is for us a new beginning that we are very excited and humbled to be a part of. BITA has been officially operating since 1994. BITA has started its activities from a new perspective. BITA inherited the outstanding reputation and legacy in its projects and gained donors trust and recognition. This has been possible through the support of our friends, a dedicated and highly professional staff and lastly but not least, those of us in the BITA s leadership and Executive Committee members who with honor place our names, reputations and time behind BITA. BITA s newsletter aiming at highlighting the events, program which we are conducted and our achievements. Sisir Dutta
Puppet show with artistic essence Puppets are an aspect of our history and everyday lives. Using this form, BITA regenerated this form to preserve its heritage. BITA gladly inform that, BITA & Goethe Institute jointly organized a Puppet Show, which has done at Alliance Francaise, Chittagong on 10 January 2013. This puppet show is the result of a 2 week long residency on puppetry that has been conducted by Berlin based puppet player Wieland Jagodzinski in BITA Culture & Communication Trust (BCCT) Patiya, Chittagong. In this workshop, the participants were grass root artist, group theater activist, students of fine arts department of Chittagong University & member of BITA's theater core team. One Billion Rising Program On February 14, 2013 BITA with the help of Action Aid Bangladesh observed one billion rising program, participation of grassroot women, children at Udayangoli School Premises. It is a global campaign to call all people women, men, diverse gender identifies and children across all ages and cultures to refuse to live with any form of violence. On that program Ms Anowara Alam, Convenour of Chittagong District Alliance for Domestic Violence Campaign Aliance was the chief guest. She said about how women are facing violences at home, office premises and all around of them. Also students of Bangladesh Shishu Accademy perfomed there in the program and women violence prevention issues were present by folk song by renowned folk artist of Chittagong. With all these colorful events celebrated women s right to be free from fear of violence, discrimination and harassment.
BITA organised Youth Job Fair at Bandarban Hill District BITA organised a 3days Youth Job Fair on Decemder 19-21, 2012 at DC office premises on Bandarban Hill District which supported by Save the Children Bangladesh. Mr. AKM Tariqul Islam, Deputy Commissioner, Bandarban inaugurated the Fair at 10:00 AM. And the chief guest of the closing event the Chairman of Bandarban Hill District Council Khaishawlla. The program was attended by, among others government & non government officials, teachers, local people and their representatives, civil socitey, local enteprenuers were present. The 500 students of BITA ICT Training Centre also participated the program and on the 2nd day of the fair students received their certificates and the program was lead by Mr. Obaidur Rahman, Regional Advisor of Save the Children Bangladesh. The last day of the program designed with cultural activities and magic show by the famous magician Mr. Rajib Boshak. The Executive Director of BITA expressed his thanks and gratitude to the audience for made this youth fair successful. BITA Publication Bangladesh is enriched with various cultural based folk elements. From those elements many impress are not discovering in practice. BITA is committed to catch folk based story for its unique intervention. The publication is consisting with seven folk theatre modalities focusing prevention on Human Trafficking.
BITA signs MOU with Ministry of Youth Department, Chittagong Ministry of Youth Department, Chittagong signed an MOU with BITA on 17th February 2013 for developing packages for empowerment of the youth by providing skill development training, micro-credit support and ensure their participation in national development processes. This MOU signed under the project of "Strengthening non state actors to claim rights and services for extreme marginalized and socially excluded communities of Bangladesh" which financed by Europian Union and supported by Oxfam GB Bangladesh. Mr. Saifuddin Mohammad Hasan Ali, Deputy Director from Youth Department and Ms. Mousumi Chowdhury, Director Policy & Collaboration from BITA signed the MOU. Moreover it is a step where GO and NGO works jointly which in future helps to proverty reduction and it will also create a access in government service to under previliged community. Norwegian music in port city Music enthusiasts of the port city were recently engrossed by the performance of Trio Nattergale, a troupe consisting of three Norwegians baroque musicians, Norwegian artiste Erik Skanke Hosoien, who trained in guitar and lute, Ingeborg Chiristophersen on her sea flute and Karolina Radziej on baroque violin at DC Hill premises. Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) and Live Squre hosted the program, titled In search of the Roots initiated by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and Concerts Norway. The program featured some traditional and popular Norwegian compositions alongside pieces that were the outcomes of a two-day music workshop arranged by BITA at Fulki Auditorium here. The program ended with some group performances from both Bangladeshi and the Nowrwegian music artist at the Chittagong Grammar School premises, Probarttak Songho and Green Valley school. The program directed by music producer Hallgeir Frydenlund.
German Embassy Dhaka & BITA Co-operation H.E. the German Ambassador and BITA-Executive Director Sisir Dutta shaking hands with the Agreement signed. BITA will now go ahead and reconstruct the Jetoban Temple itself, its library and common room and will help restore religious life in Ramu through providing scripts, instruments and many other things. Annual Meeting Asia regional Theatre & Education Network (ARTEN) The 3rd Annual Meeting of ARTEN members was being held at BITA Culture & Communication Trust (BCCT) of BITA, Patiya, near Chittagong in Bangladesh, during 30 Nov 01 Dec 2012. Mr. Sisir Dutta, President ARTEN and Executive Director BITA declared the Annual Meeting as open with his introduction speech. Mr. Subodh Patnayek, the General Secretary gave an introduction for sharing the history of ARTEN. Everybody realized the mission of ARTEN is to project the Voice of Asian Practitioners of 'Theatre and Education'. There were members present like: Mr. Sisir Dutta (President, ARTEN); Mr. Subodh Patnayek, (General Secretary, ARTEN); Dr. Israfeel Shaheen (Professor Dramatic Dept. of Dhaka University); Mr. Song (Member Korea & Minduelle); Mr. Alex (Korea & Minduelle); Mr. Niranjan Bhuyian (Member Asom Ranga Katha India); Mr. V. Ashok Kumar (Individual Member Bangalore, India); Mr. Swapan Guha (Member & ED of Rupantar, BD); Mr. Hassan Tareque (Rupantar, BD).There were 3 foreign friends have been accepted as observing participants as introduced by Dr. Israfeel Shaheen. They were 2 from Italy & 1 from Germany: Mr. GiorGio Zorcu (Artistic Director of Accademia Hutamenti); Ms. Sara Donzelli (Actress of Accademia Hutamenti); Ms. Julialin (Actress & Theatre Trainer from Germany).
BITA- ARTEN presents Bandit Queen Sara, the Italian actress under discovering the direction of Goirgio has prepared a solo performance on the well known case of Bandit Queen. This was scheduled to be in Shilpakala Academy on 2 nd Dec, 2012 at 7 pm. BITA organized this performance around this ARTEN meeting for the cultural artists of Chittagong and the production got appreciation from all walks of people. Upcoming Event International Women Day Round Table on Waste Management & Sanitation Theatre Campaign on Village Court Workshop on Traditional Music Instrument World Theatre Day KALOCHAND ( New Theatre Production Launching ) Contact Person Sisir Dutta Executive Director Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) E-mail: sisir_bita@yahoo.com Cell No: +88 01711845996 Moushumi Chowdhury Director Policy & Collaboration Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) E-mail: mousumi_priyota@yahoo.com Cell No: +88 01711150322 Date of Publication: 5 th March 2013 Composing & Designing Zarin Farah Nila