~story by Mikey Leung~

Full Moon Beach Parties in Bangladesh? Just last year, most travellers wouldn’t have dreamed of it.

But the reality is that they are now a monthly occurrence, drawing anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred people to the beachside at Cox’s Bazaar every month.

The parties are an initiative of Alien Shohagh and Samiha Alam Bristy–the co-owning couple who have created Mermaid Cafe—a place that offers something quite different from the mass tourism experience offered by the rest of the venues at Cox’s.

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Tags: Beach,Cox's Bazaar,Full Moon Party,Mermaid Cafe
Categories: Destinations, Events
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~story by Mikey Leung~

Award-winning Australian tour operator Intrepid Travel is coming to Bangladesh (click here to see the new itinerary).

This is big news, considering that Intrepid is one of the world’s leading Responsible Travel (RT) operators, having won the ‘Best Overall Tour Operator’ award from the UK’s Responsible Tourism awards in 2006.

Some words from their website on the matter:

For the past 18 years we’ve maintained a commitment to responsible and sustainable travel. We work with communities by establishing local businesses, we train and use local operators and we always ensure that our travellers really interact with the locals in their host communities.

By travelling responsibly we’re working to ensure that these incredible places, fascinating cultures and wonderful people are here to greet us in years to come. We’re empowering the local communities and creating richer, real life experiences for travellers.

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Tags: Intrepid Travel,New Trips,Tour Operators
Categories: Events, Responsible Travel, Travel, Uncategorized
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~story by Mikey Leung~

The German Club (House No. 24, Road. No. 104) is hosting an exhibition of brass sculptures on May 1st and 2nd, 09:30am - 19:30pm. The sculptures were produced by the Banik family of the Dhamrai Metal Works and the designs are splendidly intricate and detailed. Sukanta Banik has long been fighting to preserve this art, which he says has been in his family for generations.

You can see more pictures from my visit to Dhamrai here.

The exhibition is being held because Sukanta says he needs to raise funds and save his historic house, the same venue where the sculptures are produced. He writes:

Many of you have been here – visited it, seen a demonstration or two, walked though hallways, browsed in our shop, had a cold drink or a cup of my mother’s lemon tea. In a short time, our family might lose this place.

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Tags: Art,Bangladesh,Culture,Dhamrai Metal Works,Sukanta Banik
Categories: Events
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VSO Canada is proud to present “Brothel Justice” - a short documentary film based on the lives of women living and working in a brothel in Bangladesh. See how these women are breaking through social and political barriers to empower themselves and make change.

Brothel Justice is a public engagement component of SCORE : Strengthening Communities’ Rights and Empowerment, a joint project of VSO Canada and its partners along with VSO Bangladesh and its affiliate community-based organizations.

Join us and meet the filmmakers and other volunteers from the project. Hear from a panel of guest speakers about their own experiences working with vulnerable communities in developing countries, including volunteers who worked with the sex workers at the brothel featured in the film.

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Tags: Bangladesh,Brothel Justice,documentaries,volunteering,VSO Canada
Categories: Events
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~story by Belinda Meggitt~

Patients at CRP go through a rigorous rehabilitation process to assist their reintegration into mainstream society. See more photos here.

Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), based at Savar, has worked extensively throughout Bangladesh since the 70s to improve the care of People with Disabilities (PWD), especially the paralysed. Their dynamic approach to care and advocacy is internationally supported. Not only do they offer acute care, but they provide an integrated approach to mainstream social reintegration that includes skills training, allied health care and family counselling.

Over the past two years CRP has faced internal dissonance. Yet, despite management restructuring and funding issues they have forged ahead for the benefit of PWD and their families. This Friday they are holding a fundraising event.

“Walking for Those Who Cannot”

Sponsored Walk in aid of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP)

CRP is holding a five mile sponsored walk on Friday, 29th February, 2008 in the Gulshan Lake Park, Gulshan-2.

The walk will begin at 8am. Times will be staggered for students from different schools.

CRP welcomes participation in this event which aims to raise funds for CRP and awareness of issues relating to disability.

Anyone interested in taking part please contact CRP’s Fundraising Department:
Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP)
P.O: CRP-Chapain, Savar, Dhaka-1343
Tel: 02 7710464-5, Mob: 01713 016587
E-mail: fundraising [AT] crp-bangladesh [DOT] org
www.crp-bangladesh.org

Come along offer you support and/or donate some money. Hope to see you there!

Tags: Bangladesh,Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed,CRP,Fundraising,Savar
Categories: Events, Health
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Click on the image to see more from Russell John.

The Bangladeshi Photographers group recently completed a Cyclone Sidr fundraising exhibition, which presented a mix of amateur and professional photography at the Russian Cultural Centre last week. The exhibition has now moved to another venue (details below) but for those who may not able to make it, I managed to speak with some of the photographers about some of my favourites from the show.

The BP group is unique in that many of them have come together via the internet—they are currently sharing their images in an ever increasing pool of quality photography of Bangladesh, which is freely available for all to see at Flickr. Click here to see more of the group’s pictures. You’ll find a mixed bag—some are amateurs with a a real talent, others are just out to have fun with their cameras and explore.

The above image is by self-professed “IT Guy” Russell John. You can hear the story of this image and a few other favourites by following the link below and by listening to the podcast:

 

 Interviews with some of the members of the BP group [8:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (220)

M R Hasan’s “Road Workers” photo.

Moniruzzaman’s “Creator of the Earth” photo.

Next venue’s details:
Venue: Chobir Haat (opposite of Institute of Fine Arts, Shahbag)
Time: 11 AM to 8 PM
Date: 1st February 2008 to 3rd February 2008

Tags: Bangladesh,Bangladeshi Photographers,Cyclone Sidr,exhibitions,Photography,photos
Categories: Events, Photography
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Click on the image to see it in full size.

The Bangladeshi Photographers group is holding a Cyclone Sidr fundraising exhibition until January 31 at the Russian Cultural Centre in Dhanmondi.

What is most impressive about this event is not only quality of the images but by the collaboration of the photographers involved. We’ll be watching this group closely at Joybangla.info.

More of the group’s photography is available at Flickr.

Tags: Bangladesh,beautiful,Cyclone Sidr,Photography,travel photography
Categories: Events
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