Public Service Announcement (PSA)RMMRU has produced five PSAs on remittances and two PSAs on safe migration, both of which aired on several TV and Radio Channels; these include, the public channel, Bangladesh Television, private channels such as ATN Bangla, Channel I, nTV, and the national radio, Bangladesh Betar. The PSAs convey the message that benefits of migration can be maximized by receiving remittances through banking channels and by utilizing it in the productive sector. Two other PSAs focused on providing pre-departure information and highlighting the contribution of migrant workers in the national economy of the country. One PSA was produced to encourage a regular channel of student migration to the UK. The PSA was developed by Media Mix Enterprise Ltd. and directed by Diponkor Dipon; the PSA aired on January, 2008.
Music VideoTwo music videos were produced by RMMRU. The first illuminated the hardship faced by migrants in destination countries and the second encouraged the migrants’ families to use remittance productively.
Telefilm and DramaRMMRU has produced three telefilms and three dramas about safe migration and remittances. The main goal of the films is to develop awareness and subsequently curb fraudulence and cheating in the Bangladeshi migration sector. It also aims to inform people of the problems and risks involved with irregular migration. The dramas seek to educate the people of Bangladesh about the Do’s and Don’ts of international migration. It is RMRRU’s hope that viewers feel more informed about the potential harms associated with migration by the end of the telefilm. Additionally, the telefilms provide an opportunity for people to become more informed about the advantages of migration through regular channels. The following telefilms have been produced by RMMRU:
Onno Muktijoddha
RMMRU produced Onno Muktijoddha (Today’s Freedom Fighter) directed by renowned film-maker Murshedul Islam. The story illustrates the hopes and aspirations of four Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia. The premiere showing of the film was held at British Council Auditorium on 25 March 2009, and was followed by an airing on Bangladesh Television (BTV) on 17 April, covering a wider audience. The film has also been shown in RMMRU project areas through a multimedia projector during different events such as Hatshova, Utonboitok etc.
Obhibash
In an effort to promote safe migration, RMMRU produced the drama Obhibash directed by Gias Uddin Selim. The drama was telecasted on RTV on the evening of Eid-Ul-Azha, on 01 January 2007 at 8 pm. The drama depicts the story of a student migrating to the UK. The topic of the Obhibash was “Student Migration to the UK from Bangladesh: A comparison of regular and irregular process.”
Shapner Bilath (London My Dream)
To discourage irregular migration, RMMRU produced Shapner Bilath, directed by Gias Uddin Selim. The drama follows the story of the migration of a chef. The theme of the drama was “Regular and irregular channels of labour migration to UK”. The film was telecasted on NTV on the evening of Eid-Ul-Azha at 8:15 pm on January 01, 2007.
Dik Bhranto Nabeek
The film Dik Bhranto Nabeek set out to discourage irregular and unsafe migration and was based on a true story. The topic of the telefilm was “Irregular migration to the UK through Spain or Italy: routes and consequences”. The film encouraged regular and safe migration by shedding light on the benefit of adopting legal means of migration. The film is written and directed by Al Mansur and was broadcasted on Channel I on April 26, 2007.
Abar Asibaw Phiree (Return to Home)
The topic of the drama Abar Asibaw Phiree is “Life of a trans-national British –Bangladeshi, highlighting the diaspora’s contribution to the UK.” The drama was written and directed by Al Mansur and was aired at Channel I on February 21, 2007 as a special drama for International Mother Language Day.
Doi Bhuban (Two Horizon):
Telefilm Doi Bhuban aired on RTV several times. The film was first telecasted on August 18, 2007 as a telefilm of the month. The topic of this film was “Migration of a Nurse to the UK: Promoting Skilled Migration and Consequence of Irregular Migration”. The film was written and directed by Saiful Islam Manno.
RMMRU produced a documentary called Yatra (Journey) and a docudrama titled Shapna (Dream) in September 2009. Yatra focuses on the formalities and Do’s and Don’ts during travel; Shapna highlights the tale of an aspiring migrant, Mamun, who decides to migrate. Shapna sheds light on the proper process of migration. The docudramas and documentaries have been pretested during field training, and are now an integral part of RMMRU’s training modules. Bangladesh television produced a documentary film Shimana Chariye (Beyond Borders) on female migration. The film was designed and directed by Pervez Siddiqui and is focused on skilled migration and fraudulent practices in female migration. Shimana Chariye is based on RMMRU’s research publication “ Transcending Boundaries”. Additionally, RMMRU produced another documentary titled Broken Dream focused on the reintegration of Libya returnee migrants. Pervez Siddiqui also directed this film.
Television Talk ShowTalk shows have the potential to play a vital role on migration awareness. In order to address some relevant policy issues, RMMRU produced a thirteen episode television talk show titled Obhibashir Gamer Taka (Hard Earned Money of the Migrants). The talk show brought the attention of policy makers to the need for bank and financial institution reform in order to explore new labor markets and increase the potential of remittance flow through formal channels. Obhibashir Gamer Taka was aired on the private television channel Bangla Vision from November 2008 to January 2009. Among others, the Governor, Deputy Governor and Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, Secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE), senior officials of MoEWOE and BMET, president of BAIRA, academics, researchers, senior bank officials, and migrant rights activists participated in different episodes of the talk show.
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materialsRMMRU printed and distributed IEC materials, such as posters (qty 90,000), containing messages on migration decision making, preparatory steps, and safe migration processes for both male and female migrants, brochures (qty 100,000), containing messages of safe migration process, formalities of remittance transfer, Do’s and Don’ts, legal ways, and proper utilization of remittance, leaflets (qty 200,000), and stickers (qty 100,000) among the stakeholders. All of the materials distributed contained issue and gender based information on safe migration.
Billboard, Megasign, Signboard and BrandingRMMRU supplied BMET, DEMO, and Union Council Offices with migration information for migrants. Four billboards were displayed in Dhaka, Chittagong, Tangail and Comilla, outlining ways to identify licensed recruiting agencies, the importance of acquiring and maintaining two sets of photocopies of crucial documents, and the importance of maintaining two bank accounts to facilitate investments. RMMRU installed forty mega signs along the Dhaka–Chittagong and Dhaka—Tangail highway highlighting the contribution of migrant workers to the national economy and affirming that migrants were respectable citizens of the country. About two-hundred seventy-five permanent signboards—seventy-five each in Dhaka, Chittagong, Tangail and Comilla districts— were installed
May Day (International Workers Day)As part of the safe migration campaign, RMMRU observes International May Day from 1-3 Mayeach year in Dhaka through a rally, fair and seminar. RMMRU’s stall at the May Day Fair is decorated with campaign banners, and all campaign materials and publications are usually made available.
International Migrants DayRMMR celebrates International Migrant’s Day each year on December 18th. A press conference is usually organized on December 17th with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and other civil societies. This past year, RMMRU also hosted a stall at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Additionally, partner NGOs in Comilla, Chittagong and Tangail districts undertook special programs including rallies and discussion meetings. In Comilla, Assistance for Human Resource Development with Technology (AHRDT) organized a day-long program in Daudkandi-Titas region, which included a rally, a telefilm showing, and a seminar titled “Investment of remittances in cooperatives and alleviation of poverty by creating employment”. The program was presided over by the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), with spontaneous participation of Migrants’ Rights Protection Committee members, returnee migrants, government officials, bankers, civil society members, journalists and local people—making the program a huge success. Youth Power in Social Action (YPSA) organized a similar program in the Sitakunda and Mirershorai area of Chittagong. YPSA held a large rally, crossing the major points of the town, followedby a discussion meeting with local opinion leaders to illuminate migrants’ rights to security and justice. Rural Poor Development Organization (RPDO) organized a rally and a seminar in Tangail proper and in Kalihati Upazilas to observe the day. Government officials and NGO activists participated in the seminar. Check out more about our event last year
here!
