In a move towards inclusivity, the Joy Bangla Concert 2024 has announced special arrangements to accommodate female attendees. Young Bangla, through its verified Facebook page, revealed that dedicated entrances and spaces will be reserved exclusively for women. “Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and camaraderie,” beckons the announcement, highlighting the concert’s commitment to a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Scheduled to take place at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram, this year’s event marks a significant departure from tradition, being the first time the concert is held outside the capital city, Dhaka. This strategic shift not only broadens the geographical appeal of the event but also pays homage to the historical essence of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence, invoking the spirit of Bangabandhu’s iconic March 7 speech. Art Therapy through Printmaking’: Gallery Cosmos’s unique offering at Dhaka Flow’s wellness festival Since its inception in 2015 by the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), the Joy Bangla Concert has evolved into a cornerstone of cultural celebrations, particularly among the youth. After pausing due to the global pandemic, the concert made a roaring comeback in 2023, continuing to honour the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War. The event stands out for its unique blend of musical entertainment and historical reflection, creating a deeply resonant experience for attendees. The 2024 edition promises to be a grand musical fiesta, featuring performances from a mix of popular and emerging rock bands. The line-up, as announced by Young Bangla, includes fan favourites such as Artcell, Cryptic Fate, Avoid Rafa, Nemesis, Chirkutt, Meghdol, Lalon, the local sensation Tirondaz from Chattogram, and Carnival. These acts are set to electrify the stage, celebrating the rich musical heritage of Bangladesh and inspiring a new generation with the indomitable spirit of its people. Read more: Most-hyped Bollywood Movies Releasing on March 2024

Speakers at a discussion have opined that measures taken by the government to shore up the economy in the face of the ongoing energy crisis will stand the country in good stead in the future. They appealed for time to see the results of the initiatives. The speakers made the remarks at the 'Let's Talk' programme organised by the Centre for Research and Information (CRI) on Thursday when the Russia-Ukraine war pushed the global energy situation into a turmoil with Europe is shutting down lights and cold water for baths.

Wishing on his birthday, the Centre for Research and Information (CRI) on early Wednesday said Sajeeb Wazed Joy has become a voice of the youth in Bangladesh's policy reform circles. "He is now helping policymakers make Bangladesh a knowledge-driven economy and deal with the challenges of the 4IR," CRI said. Describing Joy as a visionary and strategist, CRI wished him a very happy birthday. On this day in 1971, Sajeeb Wazed was born in Dhaka, amidst a furious War for Liberation of Bangladesh. Joy's father was a nuclear scientist and his mother Sheikh Hasina is the prime minister of Bangladesh. His grandparents were killed in August 1975, and young Sajeeb would be barred from entering Bangladesh by a military regime. Read: Sajeeb Wazed to hand over Joy Bangla Youth Award to young masters Tuesday He then did his schooling in India and moved to America to pursue his computer science undergraduate and public policy graduate studies at the University of Texas and Harvard University respectively. In his 30s, he became an advocate for democracy in Bangladesh when an unelected military-backed regime ruled over Bangladesh in 2007. He helped restore a politically elected government. He would start advocating for a new progressive tech-advanced Bangladesh. Sajeeb became the ICT affairs advisor to Bangladesh's Prime Minister. He is regarded as the mastermind of the Digital Bangladesh initiative, which would accelerate e-governance and transform the country's IT industry in 15 years.

Shuchona Foundation will be launching "Pracheer Periye" on April 24 during an online event organised in collaboration with Centre for Research and Information (CRI). The Foundation undertook the initiative to translate and publish Beyond the Wall, an autobiography by a renowned self-advocate, Dr. Stephen Mark Shore in Bangla titled Pracheer Periye. The online event titled “Pracheer Periye: Saima Wazed's Conversation with Stephen Shore on his Autobiography and Autism” will be attended by Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as chief guest. Dr. Shore and Saima Wazed, chairperson of Shuchona Foundation will be part of a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Helal Uddin Ahmed, Associate Professor of Child Adolescent and Family Psychiatry in National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Also read: Bangabandhu believed in peace, dialogue, social harmony: Saima Other guest speakers will be Jane Pearce, Country Director of World Food Programme Bangladesh, Adiba Ibnat Poshla who will share her experience as a self-advocate in navigating life with ASD, and Niger Rahman as one of the book reviewers of Pracheer Periye. Acknowledging that no two persons on the spectrum are the same, the book is helpful and gives an understanding of the life of a person with ASD, said a press release on Thursday. The author of the original book, Dr. Shore was diagnosed with autism as a child. His autobiographical account gives a rare, detailed, and warm insight into the life of someone with Asperger Syndrome. Currently, Dr. Shore is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Adelphi University in the United States. Shuchona Foundation is publishing Pracheer Periye with the hope that it will help further the understanding towards ASD among Bangla readers at home and abroad. Also read: Autism: Saima shares Bangladesh's good practices with global community Shuchona Foundation’s Chairperson Saima Wazed is a Licensed School Psychologist, an Advisor to the Director-General of WHO on Mental Health and Autism, and CVF’s Thematic Ambassador for Vulnerability. Currently, she is an Instructor and Clinic Supervisor at Adrian Dominican School of Education (ADSOE), Barry University, USA. Pracheer Periye can be found in rokomari.com after the launch.   END/UNB/MK/F 1940  

Tonmoy Ahmed, a coordinator of the Bangladesh Awami League’s research wing Centre for Research and Information (CRI), has become the fellow of the Konrad Adenauer School for Young Politicians (KASYP). “The struggle of our great leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for an independent Bangladesh taught me how to connect with the people,” Tonmoy was quoted as saying. Also read:Awami League announces candidates for 27 local body polls Congratulating Tonmoy, Bangladesh Awami League's International Affairs Subcommittee Member Barrister Shah Ali Farhad wrote, "Five years back, I was the first from our party to attend this remarkable fellowship. After Nadia Choudhury and Seema Karim, now Tonmoy is the fourth fellow of KASYP from our party. We are lucky to be part of the extended KAS family." German-based KASYP is a training programme for young political leaders in Asia. It is designed to strengthen political parties in Asia and to develop a cadre of accountable and responsible young political leaders. Also read:Awami League to win by majority, says EIU report The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Political Dialogue Asia introduced Tonmoy, after being selected for the 12th batch of the programme, through its facebook page. Born and brought up in a small city called Palashbari, Gaibandha district of Bangladesh, Tonmoy was a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, the Facebook post reads. According to the KASYP, over the course of this two-year programme, participants were given the opportunity to learn about the background necessary for the development of mature democracies of local political parties, internal dynamics and its impact on the welfare of their constituencies, exercise of leadership, electoral process and how these can contribute to good governance. Also read:AL's nomination form distribution for 64 municipalities next week By enhancing the skills and competencies of political parties, the program helped create a cadre of political leaders that will make a difference within their political parties and in their respective countries as well, it said.

 The popular Joy Bangla Concert will return in 2022 as the celebration is put on a halt this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, said Bangabandhu’s grandson Radwan Mujib Siddiq.

Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Trustee of Centre for Research and Information (CRI), has pointed out people's reluctance in wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing; and encouraged all to maintain those mandatory rules reminding that COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet.

Prime Minister's ICT Adviser and CRI Chairperson Sajeeb Wazed Joy will announce the Joy Bangla Youth Award 2020 winners through a virtual award-conferring ceremony on Tuesday.

Centre for Research and Information (CRI)’s youth platform Young Bangla in collaboration with Human Rights Programme-UNDP, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has set out on a campaign titled ‘Women’s Safety in Public Places (WSPP)’.

Centre for Research and Information (CRI) Vice-Chairperson and autism expert Saima Wazed Hossain has called upon everyone to create space for youths to take the country forward.