Festival of Resilience: People, Planet and Possibilities

ActionAid Bangladesh's two-day long festival on resilience and culture started on June 2, 2022 at Dhaka.

To celebrate the resilience of the communities of Bangladesh, along with the country's glorious heritage, culture, and traditions, ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) organises a two-day long festival, titled "Festival of Resilience: People, Planet and Possibilities" which is centred around the strength of Bangladesh's people to strive and rise against all odds. The festival aims to encourage celebration and participation among communities in recognition of their stories of resilience.

The festival takes place between June 9 and 10, at the Dhaka's Naveed's Comedy Club (NCC) in Gulshan-2.

For decades, the people of Bangladesh have faced countless challenges, such as, climate and human-induced disasters, inequality, economic instability, the refugee crisis and the pandemic. But every time, the mass bounced back with the power of resilience and survived with a renewed vigour.

A very recent example would be the COVID-19 pandemic, when the collective effort of the people of this country helped communities to stay hopeful and agile, despite all the uncertainties and despair.

Photos: Courtesy

This innate quality of resilience among people is worth celebrating and hence ActionAid Bangladesh is organising this festival. Through a wide and immersive range of activities, the festival will help celebrate the people, their strength, joy, and solidarity.

The first day, June 9, will include key attractions such as: The opening performance by Happy Home girls; the inauguration of the exhibition and kiosks; opening dialogue on 'Multi-dimensional perspective of resilience', featuring Farah Kabir, the Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh; Dr Maleka Banu, the General Secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad; Rowshon Ara, Member of Shetu Bondhon Gori Network; Mahrukh Mohiuddin, Managing Director of The University Press Limited; Sabina Malo, General Assembly Member of AAIBS; Farzana Farukh Jhumu, Youth Climate Justice Activist at Fridays for Future; Ibrahim Khalil Al Zayad, Vice-Chair of AAIBS; and Taslima Tanisha from Happy Home Representative.

There was also a special segment, "She-tales", involving women leaders from the community who will share their tales of courage and resilience, and a cultural performance by AAB Band with the theme "Mukto Koro Bhoy, Apona Majhe Shakti Dhoro Nijera Koro Joy". Remarks by Dr M Khalilur Rahman, Member of the General Assembly at AAIBS marked the conclusion of the first day's arrangements.

For the second day, June 10, there awaits a flash mob by the young participants of the Activista Network of ActionAid Bangladesh.

There will also be three "Human Book Café" sessions with distinguished speakers: Imtiaz Ahmed, Professor of International Relations & Director of Centre for Genocide Studies at the University of Dhaka; Naveed Mahbub, Comedian and Columnist; Tania Wahab, Entrepreneur; Afsan Chowdhury, Journalist and Researcher; Shameem Akhtar Filmmaker and Media Activist; Shakil Ahmed, Futurist, Educator, and Storyteller at Ridiculous Futures; Mahrukh Mohiuddin, Managing Director at The University Press Limited; Afzal Hossain, Actor and Director; Sadia Haque, Founder CEO at ShareTrip and Ahsan Rony, Founder – Green Savers.

Abul Kalam Azad, Special Envoy of the Climate Vulnerable Forum; Tania Wahab, Entrepreneur; Afzal Hossain, Actor and Director; Imtiaz Ahmed, Professor of International Relations & Director of Centre for Genocide Studies at the University of Dhaka; Afsan Chowdhury; Shameem Akhtar; and Farah Kabir took part in the festival's closing dialogue, followed by the renowned band, Joler Gaan's cultural performance.

"The knack for survival through endurance and surpassing obstacles is what makes us, as a nation, unique and commendable. At ActionAid, we felt that it was high time we celebrated this innate resilience of people – and therefore, came up with the idea of this Festival of Resilience. Through this two-day long event, we are going to promote the diversity of the country's culture, attempt to learn the grassroots' resilience mechanisms, explore opportunities for potential partnerships and highlight the work of ActionAid Bangladesh for building resilience and increasing awareness," said Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh.

There will be exciting games, live story-telling sessions and different stalls as well, where different handicraft, boutique and food items can be purchased. Exhibition (Photo, Arts, crafts, audio-visuals, etc.) and stalls of Aaurhi Trust, Barir Jeenish-Happy Home, Cox's Bazar Rohingya Response were present at the festival.