Today’s Bangladesh is a place where hope and opportunity collide, and Prothom Alo truly believes that youth empowerment fuels all the positive changes here. Prothom Alo, as a media outlet for the people, proudly presents our non-profit Bondhushava organisation. Bondhushava is a dynamic, friendship-driven online and offline community for young Bangladeshis who want to make our country a better place.
This initiative by Prothom Alo pays tribute to the values of the Liberation War and a commitment to democracy, showing that we, above all else, nurture human values and are dedicated to building a platform for young minds to ignite change within their communities. Read on to see how Bondhushava harnesses collaboration to cultivate compassion, knowledge, and resilience in new generations.
Daily Prothom Alo news is loved by readers of all ages, and a large percentage of our subscribers are young people who want to learn more about what’s going on globally and nationally. To inspire young blood, Prothom Alo began hiring college trainee writers and auditors, whose work showed great potential and eventually led us to start Bondhushava. The first batch of our Bondhushava volunteers have grown into young adults with skills, and they continue to work closely with Prothom Alo to mentor new participants: Gen Z and Gen Alpha Bangladeshis!
Over 2 million youth enter Bangladesh’s labour market every year, which is why job opportunities have become a key topic in Bondhushava. Our daily reading session always begins with job vacancies for skilled workers and small business ideas before moving on to a thorough overview of current economic, healthcare, education, political news, and local job markets to help participants keep up with recent developments. Aside from these book-club-style meetings, we also plan a number of activities that make positive impacts locally. Here are some of the events our team hosts regularly:
With support from Prothom Alo, the Bondhushava community not only survives, but thrives in this country’s economic downturn. Bondhushava volunteers, ranging in age from 13 to 19 years old, turn a national crisis into potential for something new, spreading knowledge and showing genuine empathy to less fortunate people that need emergency assistance. Here are examples of the most recent campaigns by Bondhushava and Prothom Alo.
Prothom Alo promotes learning, problem-solving and innovative thinking – and that’s why you’ll see more Bondhushava’s workshops on the environment in the future. At a time when environmental concerns matter most, the Chittagong Bandhu Sabha Workshop empowers youth to adopt what’s called a green mindset. 20 participants learned about sustainability, biodiversity, and practical steps to protect the planet through discussions and a few hands-on activities. Workshop attendees were divided into two groups to discover the causes of environmental damage, then presented their findings to the entire class with an intense, brain-stimulating Q&A session that took place afterwards.
This seminar grew out of Bondhushava’s previous survey-based debates about AI and scams. Our special seminar on cyber security equips youth in this ever-changing digital landscape with the knowledge to navigate online spaces safely. The seminar was conducted by Abdul Munayim Sarkar, President of DIU Bandhu Sabha, and Al Mamun Raju, Software Engineer at Smart Field Service. Participants of this online seminar explored and discussed the importance of software updates and what they should look for. In the wake of this seminar, we are confident that the younger generation in Bangladesh, at least those part of Bondhushava, are now aware that it’s risky to share personal information on social media.
The Liberation War painting competition, themed ‘Story of Liberation’, invited students of West Joydevpur Government Primary School to express their understanding of Bangladesh’s history through oil pastel paintings and creativity. Taking part in this event allows children to exercise their creativity and deepens their connection to their roots, letting them know that they grew from their ancestors’ struggles and heroic triumphs. 36 students signed up for this competitive event, and 5 of them had shown excellent artistic abilities. To motivate kids to keep learning and valuing democracy, book prizes were given to 5 winners by Amjad Hossain Khan, head teacher of the primary school.
Kids in Bangladesh are in a fragile position, and most do not have access to adequate facilities and educational materials suitable for their age groups. Prothom Alo and the Bondhushava team support underprivileged students in as many ways as possible, including providing textbooks to school kids in our community. Earlier this year, Bondhushava launched an educational material distribution project under the initiative of the Bashemurbi Prabi Bandhu Sabha. This donation is a part of Prothom Alo’s 26th anniversary celebration. Our volunteers came back with truly fulfilling experiences – saying nothing could compare to the joy they felt when they saw those children’s smiles!
According to Prothom Alo news, more than half of the deaths in Dhaka South city this year were caused by dengue. This seasonal sickness, which has affected 19,074 people so far this year, prompted Bondhushava to create an annual public-awareness campaign. ‘Don’t Panic About Dengue, Raise Awareness to Cure’ was this year’s campaign’s name. During the event, our dedicated volunteers cleaned the campus, delivered awareness speeches, handed out useful leaflets, and educated the public about dengue. Cleaning up the area, in particular, is one way to show how bright, clean living spaces can reduce mosquito populations, which ultimately prevents this fatal disease that they transmit.
Prothom Alo community is a safe space for open discussions and sharing resources, and Bondhushava is here to carry the movement forward. Mental issues, while remaining a stigma in many communities in this world, is a matter that our volunteers consider normal for human beings. We support and motivate people to speak up, get help, or seek necessary treatment without fear of judgement. This seminar encourages young people to prioritise their mental well-being, fostering a culture of support and understanding. In this amazing seminar, Mahmuda Muhsina Bushra, a psychotherapist and consultant from Dhaka City, told his young audience to ‘love yourself in any situation’.
Bondhushava has become a crucial part of Prothom Alo, sending outstanding, promising talent to our society through programs that help them become better equipped from an early age. Bondhushava proves to the world that they are more than a collection of initiatives, acting more like a movement towards building a network of changemakers.
Each project by Bondhushava and Prothom Alo not only addresses immediate social issues but also cultivates a network of hopeful, passionate do-gooders committed to making a difference. That said, we invite the youth of Bangladesh to join us in this noble cause. Together, we can champion social justice, promote education, and inspire the next generation of leaders!