Documentary on Shah Abdul Karim screened

By Rahad Abir

The launching ceremony of ‘Bhatir Purush’, a documentary by Shakoor Majid featuring the life and music of the legendary folk singer Shah Abdul Karim, was held on Wednesday at Shahid Zia Auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum. The programme was organised by Laser Vision.

Minister for Education Nurul Islam Nahid was present as the chief guest while noted actor Mamunur Rashid and eminent music personality Professor Mridul Kanti Chakrobarty were present as special guests. The chairman of Laser Vision, A K M Arifur Rahman, presided over the event. The function started with the screening of the documentary ‘Bhatir Purush’. A boy named Abdul Karim was born in a low land area in Sunamganj of the then greater Sylhet district of Bangladesh almost hundred years ago. His parents could not afford to send him in a school. But the boy had started to learn from his surroundings—water, boat, nature and people and in course of time, the boy turned himself into a living legend named Shah Abdul Karim.—this was the beginning of the documentary.

Praising the documentary of Shakoor Majid, the chief guest Nurul Islam Nahid said, ‘I hope Shakoor will continue this type of work.’ Mamunur Rashid said that Sunamganj was once rich for its traditional cultural activities but unfortunately the richness has gradually been declining. He also said that Shah Abdul Karim is an example of the cultural richness of the area. ‘I congratulate Shakoor on his work on Shah Abdul karim because this is the first work on him.’ said Dr. Mridul Kanti Chakrobarty.

Shakoor Majid started making of the documentary in 2002. To express his feelings Shakoor said, ‘I feel proud because I can screen the film which is a result of six years’ hard work.’ He also told the media that he would make an international version of the film under the title of ‘Saint of Water’.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

A tale of tea workers

Rahad Abir - May 12, 2009

On the inaugural day of the ten-day festival of documentary films on environment and people, the organisers screened ‘The Story of Tea Workers’, jointly directed by Philip Gain and Ronald Halder in the evening of Sunday at Drik Gallery in Dhanmondi.

The festival is organised by the non-government organisation called Society for Environment and Human Development (SHED). The 45-minute documentary film on the workers of tea gardens shows the plight and pleasure of their life in different gardens across the country. The directors also uphold the history of the gardens, tea business and they have also compared the condition of the tea workers of the country with that of its neighbours.

According to the film, there are 163 tea gardens in Bangladesh including seven in Panchagarh. It is said that there are over five lakh people belonging to the community of tea workers. Among them about one lakh and 18 thousand tea workers are involved in the gardens directly.

The film reveals the untold stories of the tea workers to the viewers. For example, according to the film, a tea worker in Bangladesh got Tk 32.50 as as the maximum daily cash payment in 2008 but the tea workers in the gardens in West Bengal in India are paid the equivalent of Tk 53 and the amount will increase to Tk 63 by 2011.

The film portrays that the tea workers suffer acute accommodation crisis. All members of a family live in a small room. Festival mood of the workers especially during Durga Puja is also depicted in the film.

Today, the organisers will screen two documentaries: ‘Riders to the Sundarbans’, directed by Tanvir Mokammel and ‘Chokoria Sundarban: A Forest without Tress’ Junaid Halim at 6:00pm at the gallery.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

SEHD hosts 10-day cultural programme

By Khamin / May 10, 2009

The Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) will arrange a ten-day cultural programme upholding the story of tea workers, forests and forest people from today at Drik Gallery in city’s Dhanmondi area.

The programme titled ‘The story of Tea Workers, Forest and Forest People’ will feature two photography exhibitions, book launching and screen films. The inauguration of photography exhibitions will be held at 10:00am, followed by a book launching ceremony and the screening of the documentary film ‘Cha Shramiker Katha’, directed by Ronald Halder and Philip Gain. The film is produced by SEHD.

Novelist Selina Hossain will be present as chief guest while Kilmeny Backering Vinckers, deputy high commissioner of the Australian High Commission in Dhaka is expected as special guest at the ceremony.

Dr Noazesh Ahmed, Nawab Ali Abbas Khan, and Raja Devashish Roy, among others, will be present as guests of honour. Professor Sakwat Ali Khan will chair the function. The photography exhibition titled ‘The story of Tea Workers in Bangladesh’ by Philip Gain will show the lifestyle and working environment of the tea workers. The exhibition is going to display more than 60 images. The organisers will also arrange another photography exhibition titled ‘Stolen Forest’ by Philip Gain and Ronald Halder. The exhibition with more than 70 images is believed to uphold the present situation of the existing forests in the country.

The photography exhibitions will remain open to all from 3:00pm to 8:00pm and the film festival will remain open from 6:00pm to 8:00pm everyday till May 19.

Lists of Films

May 10, Time: 6:00pm
Venue: Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
The Story of Tea Workers (45 minutes)
Directed by Ronald Halder and Philip Gain
Premiere screening: 10:15am

May 11
Teardrops of Karnaphuli (60 minutes)
Directed by Tanvir Mokammel
On the bank of the Dhanshiri River (24 minutes)
Concept and Photography by Dr Noazesh Ahmed

May 12
Riders to the Sundarbans (60 minutes)
Directed by Tanvir Mokammel
Chakaria Sundarban: A Forest without Trees (25 minutes)
Directed by Junaid Halim

May 13
Satchhari (32 minutes)
Directed by Ronald Halder
Our Sal Forest (45 minutes)
Directed by Ronald Halder
   
May 14
Stolen Forest (45 minutes)
Directed by Philip Gain and Junaid Halim
Bon Sundari Sundarban (40 minutes)
Directed by Ronald Halder
   
May 15
Tanguar Haor (38 minutes)
Directed by Ronald Halder
The Story of Baikka Beel (15 minutes)
Directed by Ronald Halder
   
May 16
Coastal Life (25 minutes)
Directed by Ronald Halder
The Ganges
Produced by BBC
   
May 17
Mandi (28 minutes)
Directed by Ashfaque Munir
Khumi Lives (32 minutes)
Directed by Ittukgula Changma
   
May 18
A Nimble Walk through Five Protected Areas (27 minutes)
Produced by Nishorgo
Maleya Taroom (15 minutes)
Produced by Tamaza Films
   
May 19
Herbal Pathways (24 minutes)
Produced by Anna Hickman
The Great Global Warming (75 minutes)
Produced by Channel 4

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Jhar Jailya : Molla Sagar’s new documentary on the riders of the sea

By Jamil Mahmud, April 8, 2009

Independent filmmaker Molla Sagar's new documentary "Jhar Jailya" (Natives of Tornado) premiered on April 6 at the Shawkat Osman Auditoium, Central Public Library.

The young filmmaker, who has so far made critically-acclaimed documentaries such as "Shironamhin 23 July," "Chalo Mon Natok Dekhtey Jai" and "Dudh Koyla" on crucial issues, this time highlights the hard-knock lives of the fishermen communities living in the coastal areas. 
According to the documentary, among 50 million inhabitants of the coastal areas in Bangladesh, nearly 20 million are somehow related to the fishing business. Of them, 1.2 million randomly stay in the deep sea with dreams of getting a big catch. Thousands of them often face the intolerable cruelty of the sea as monsoon storms appear without warning. The approximately 40-minute documentary narrates the plight of these fishermen -- many of who remain missing forever and very few survive.

Sagar uses several newspaper cuttings and TV footage throughout the documentary. His clever use of radio transmission as the background commentary points to the weakness of our radio warning system. When the fishermen stay in the deep-sea, radio transmission is the lone source of communication with the mainland. Unfortunately radio often fails to guide and save them.The other major issue addressed in the documentary is the constant pressures from the boat-owners and 'mahajan,' who force the fishermen to go out to the sea even during the perilous times of April to June when monsoon storms frequent the weather. Sagar's documentary conveys the message that if the authorities fulfil some basic needs of the fishermen such as ensuring life jackets and IDs for everyone and guide them with authentic weather forecast then it would be possible to save many lives and identify the missing ones.Coast Trust and Life Bangladesh are the producers, while Sagar himself is the editor and cinematographer of the film.

After the screening, a discussion was held at the venue. Filmmaker and teacher Manzare Hasin Murad, Executive Director of Coast Trust Rezaul Karim and Human Rights activist Dr. Hamida Hossain spoke on the film. Dr. Tofael Ahmed, adviser, Coast Trust was the moderator of the discussion.In association with Manusher Jonno Foundation, Coast Trust was the organiser of the event.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

Documenting Bangladesh-3

Time has been extended for submission of film

06-04-2009,By Mridul Mamun

Bangladesh Documentary Council Informed us that the time has been extended uto 7th April, 2009  8pm for submission of film in 3rd Bangladesh Documentary Film Festival.

Source: Bangladesh Documentary Councile.