{"id":5676,"date":"2024-12-15T09:03:57","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T09:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/?p=5676"},"modified":"2024-12-15T09:07:54","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T09:07:54","slug":"bong-thrift-carnival-2024-a-groundbreaking-confluence-of-sustainability-culture-and-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/?p=5676","title":{"rendered":"Bong Thrift Carnival 2024: A Groundbreaking Confluence of Sustainability, Culture, and Art"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dhaka, December 2024: The Bong Thrift Carnival, a first-of-its-kind event in Bangladesh, took place on December 13th and 14th, 2024, at the prestigious Le M\u00e9ridien Hotel, Dhaka. An initiative of the HerNet Foundation, curated by its trailblazing founder, Alisha Pradhan, this remarkable event became a vibrant platform to promote sustainability, cultural exchange, and community empowerment. Through an innovative array of activities, it brought together diverse communities under the theme: \u201cCommunity that Recycles Together, Sustains Together.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The carnival featured over 40 captivating stalls showcasing a diverse selection of pre-loved, recycled, and locally produced products, ranging from clothing and designer items to accessories, children\u2019s goods, and more. These stalls were a celebration of sustainable consumerism, with active participation from female professionals, expatriates, organizations, and renowned brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Adding a groundbreaking dimension to the event was the Art Camp<\/em>, an unprecedented gathering of over 40 distinguished Bangladeshi and international artists. Among them were legendary names such as Afrozaa Jamil Konka, Samar Majumder, Abdul Mannan, Farida Zaman, Biren Shome, Tarun Ghosh, Kuhu Plamondon, Jamal Ahmad, Rokeya Sultana, Rezaun Nabi, Mustapha K Palash, Fareha Zeba, Samina Nafis, Rubina Akhter, Uttam Kumar Karmaker, Dilruba Latif, Sohana Sahreen, Fahmida Khatun, Sunil Kumar, Shakila Chayan, Julia Lebrao Sendra, and many others. This inspiring art camp provided a unique opportunity for veteran artists to collaborate with emerging talents, fostering an atmosphere of creativity, mentorship, and shared ideologies. Internationally acclaimed artist Afrozaa Jamil Konka served as the advisor to this visionary initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event further elevated its cultural impact with mesmerizing live folk performances, featuring traditional Bengali instruments such as flutes, dotaras, and tablas. These soulful performances resonated deeply with attendees, offering a profound sense of cultural heritage and exchange. Performance artist Sajan Khan added another layer of uniqueness with an engaging interactive act centered on sustainability, leaving the audience both entertained and enlightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The insightful workshops held during the carnival were designed for both women and children, addressing topics of sustainability, empowerment, and personal growth. These sessions inspired real-world action, encouraging participants to embrace sustainable practices and challenge conventional gender norms. The panel discussions, featuring distinguished thought leaders and experts, were another highlight. They tackled vital subjects such as diminishing toxic masculinity, financial literacy for women, and the importance of responsible consumerism in today\u2019s world. Esteemed panelists included Ann Mary George, First Secretary (Political), High Commission of India; Shahed Akhtar, Former Ambassador of Bangladesh; Constantinos S Gavriel, General Manager, Le M\u00e9ridien Dhaka; Alisha Pradhan, founding CEO of HerNet TV and Foundation; Nahar Khan, Executive Director, Cosmos Foundation; Joya Berlin, founder of BeJoy Social Enterprise; Sadra Nishwar Siddiky, Head of Administration, Chittagong Grammar School Dhaka; Taj Iman Ahmed, founder of Jagoron Foundation; Mehjabin Prodhan, sustainability activist; Karin Jongman, Hotel Manager, Le M\u00e9ridien Dhaka; Nazah Salawat, Vice Principal of Daffodil International School; Shaila Rahman, MD of Quay Asia Ltd.; and Sabyasachi Paul, Director, Strategy, HerNet TV & Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Adding to the event\u2019s charm, a mega food court catered to a variety of tastes, offering both traditional and contemporary cuisines. The affordable pricing ensured accessibility for attendees from all walks of life, complementing the cultural richness of the carnival with a delightful culinary experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bong Thrift Carnival 2024 was powered by Le M\u00e9ridien Hotel, in association with Gold Sands Hotel and Resorts, and supported by Blue Planet Group (Gift Partner), Ligion Herbals (Gift Partner), Daffodil International School (Education Partner), and Kazi Hotel and Resort. It was hosted by HerNet Eventz. These impactful collaborations underscored a shared vision for sustainability, creativity, and social responsibility, ensuring the event\u2019s resounding success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This flagship initiative of the HerNet Foundation marked a monumental step forward in advocating for sustainability, gender equality, and community empowerment. For six years, the foundation has championed social causes such as sustainable fashion, reducing environmental footprints, minimizing waste, and fostering a circular economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bong Thrift Carnival was more than just an event\u2014it was a movement. It successfully established a thriving thrift culture in Bangladesh, highlighting eco-conscious practices that promise to leave a lasting impact on the nation\u2019s consumer culture. By promoting the reuse of goods, recycling, and sustainable shopping habits, the carnival challenged conventional norms and inspired attendees to rethink consumption and waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The carnival also served as a milestone for HerNet Television, the foundation\u2019s media wing, which has consistently championed women, underprivileged communities, and groundbreaking social initiatives. Following the July Uprising, HerNet Foundation has focused on spreading positivity and raising awareness about sustainability, with the Bong Thrift Carnival standing as a beacon of this mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the first-ever art camp organized by the HerNet Foundation, this event paved the way for future trend-setting initiatives. Looking ahead to 2025, the foundation plans to integrate digital technology, collaborate with prominent Bangladeshi artists, and further elevate traditional and heritage arts to a global platform in line with contemporary art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
Rashmi Riztan Mowri<\/strong>, Head of PR and Communication, +8801789381618<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dhaka, December 2024: The Bong Thrift Carnival, a first-of-its-kind event in Bangladesh, took place on December 13th and 14th, 2024, at the prestigious Le M\u00e9ridien Hotel, Dhaka. An initiative of the HerNet Foundation, curated by its trailblazing founder, Alisha Pradhan, this remarkable event became a vibrant platform to promote sustainability, cultural exchange, and community empowerment. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5683,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-5"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5676"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5693,"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5676\/revisions\/5693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hernet.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}