Paraa, in collaboration with Food And Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bangladesh conducted a 6-month long exploratory research in Dhaka North city to explore the ongoing informal urban agriculture practices among the poor (slum and camp dwellers). This film is an outcome of that research intended to disseminate across the public domain. 

Paraa urban research team led by Zaqaria Prince conducted the research while the film/visual research team led by Tarannum Nibir directed the film with technical assistance from Fayed Masud Khan.

Paraa acknowledges contributions from all the participants of this film. 

The Playspace is a result of Paraa’s first short course, CADSE; Critical Architecture, Design and Sustainable Environment, a new short course designed to address the need for widened critical education in the built environment.  

Paraa’s approach to design education is focused on learning through doing, a practical learning programme structured to address societal issues along with the development of the student in leadership, management and design. The live project was to design and build a playspace to be inclusive and accessible for all, especially those children whom are differently abled, residing at the LEEDO Peace Home.

The play space will exist for two years, with a series of innovative programmes to accompany it over the year.

Fashion performance video of Chol x Shama Kun's kantha collection in a disused warehouse in Dhaka by Paraa. 

Music by LAL. ( www.lalforest.com )

FASHION ART MUSIC

Paraa's first Chol (www.chol.paraa.org.uk) collaboration with fashion designer Shama Kun. This is an experimental, fashion music video , directed by Tarannum Nibir, with models from diverse backgrounds in Dhaka Bangladesh.

 The full video was shot in Begumbazar, Puran Dhaka in one morning. The music is by the amazing Lal ( Rose and Nick ) from Toronto. 

Team : 

Camera : Zaquil Deep, Tarannum Nibir, Maruf Mim

Edit: Tarannum Nibir, Sadequl Shehab, Ruhul Abdin. 

Models: Jordan, Tabassum, Adeeba, Diana, Habiba, Tania

Bangladeshi women and trans people, and even men face different kinds of harassment in the public realm. This has sadly become a very common thing in Bangladesh, especially due to the kinds of clothes they wear. The skills, energy and capacity to cope with these obvious male gazes and judgmental looks are something Bangladeshi women have had to develop, some cope, many do not! The situation is everywhere, from the villages, to small towns to the big city, and often erupts in nasty judgements that are annoying yet perceived to be quite normal. At times, these have ended in violence against women and trans people, with quite limited access to justice.  

Paraa's sustainable ethical fashion platform: Chol has started this campaign to address the issue, set in an alternative reality, where women and trans people can travel, commute freely and just be themselves in public. It’s often a common thing for women to think twice about their attire before stepping out into the public realm. Still many are brave enough to be themselves no matter what. But this simple thing should not be a struggle. We want to break the practice of judgemental gazing and motivate people to take this matter more seriously and start changing from within.

Credits: 

Concept: Tarannum Nibir, Paraa

Questions, Camera and Direction: Tarannum Nibir

Models: Mo Hla Yee, Tasnuva Anan, Joya Sikder, Tahsin Tamanna Nodee, Diana Monica, Samrita Chanda, Safia Akhter