An estimated 2/3 of Bangladesh was underwater from 10 weeks of flooding in 1998. There were 30 million people that became homeless. 1,2
A prevalent additional consequence of unresolved refugee crises around the world is the treacherous “land” or “location, location, location”. Certain locations are available for very dangerous reasons.
Islamic Relief Bangladesh and the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh are some of the organizations helping to respond and rebuild. 3,4
The Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh were right in the eye of the most recent storm this week with heavy monsoon flooding.5
Bangladesh’s top art-collecting couple, Industrialist Rajeeb Samdani and wife Nadia’s Srihatta-Samdani are opening an enormous Art Centre and Sculpture Park in late 2018. The objective is to give local and international artists much-needed space to showcase contemporary art and progressive ideas amid the Rohingya refugee crises.
The Centre will include several commissions for the 100-acre sculpture park, 10,000 square feet of artist residency spaces, 10,000 square feet of plazas, and a 5,000-square-foot gallery designed by Dhaka-based Bangladeshi architect and 2016 Aga Khan Award winner Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury, URBANA.
Entry to Srihatta will be free, in an attempt to make art widely accessible to diverse audiences. 6,7
A lot of time, resources, land and finances are all being put to work to help in Bangladesh, and sustainable progress depends on a very expansive analysis of land use and capital allocation. This is a great example of open-minded artists and devout religious groups needing to have an understanding of each other. Not just for feel good reasons, but for financial reasons, and for Quality of Life planning reasons.
+ These expansive points of reference are intended to enhance neuroplasticity, positive thinking, empathy and situational awareness – to supplement the mainstream with some upstream.
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