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Hallo

My name is Fartein Rudjord, and I'm 20 years old. I grew up on a small Island on the south-east coast of Norway. Today I live in Oslo, the capital of Norway. As I'm writing this snow is falling from the sky and the weather is getting colder. It feels wonderful knowing I will spend the winter in your beautiful country

I am really looking forward to meeting you all and working together with you.

Best regards,

Fartein

My ideas:

The madrassas

In the international press there's a lot of negative publicity about the madrassas educating terrorists in Pakistan. I would like to make a reportage about the positive aspects of the religious schools. Bangladesh have the second largest religious school system in the world. During the last years the government have implemented many secular subjects in the curriculum and the number of female students have increased. The authorities pay for 80 percent of the scholastic costs, to bring the schools under government supervision. The schools that is funded by the government, do now follow the both a religious and state curricula.

The madrassas give opportunity for many poor people to get a education. A World Bank study says the madrassas have helped Bangladesh reach some of the UN's development goals, especially a equality between boys and girls in schools. Its estimated that six million students is enrolled in the madrassa system in Bangladesh. And as the school now is accepting female students the number is growing. The acceptance of girls do also have a positive effect on the understanding of how important education of female students is. Figures from the UN says that 48 percent of the population in Bangladesh is illiterate. The madrassas play a important role fighting illiteracy.

I have heard that there is a madrassa in Chittagong, where we will have our workshop, so it would be ideal for me to make the reportage there. I am grateful for any help I might get on getting access to one of the madrassas.

The stateless Biharis

300.000 Biharis have been stateless since the Independence of Bangladesh. For almost 40 years they have been living in refugee settlements. Today the Biharis live in 60 refugee settlements in Bangladesh.

After Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan in 1971, a large group of non-Bengali citizens wanted to move to Pakistan. This group, known as the Biharis, had opposed to the independence and collaborated with West Pakistan during the war. The background for the Biharis loyalty to West Pakistan started with the partition of British-India in 1947. In fear of living with a majority of Hindus around them they left their home provinces in India, and moved to East Pakistan, which later became Bangladesh. But when they arrived, leaving their homes, possessions and professions behind, they felt alienated as Urdu speaking with their own traditions, culture and customs in Bengali-speaking East Pakistan. The Biharis never assimilated with the rest of population, and identified themselves with the Urdu speaking West Pakistan. As Urdu was the administration language in both West and East Pakistan the Biharis became privileged before the Independence.

After the Independence their support to West Pakistan resulted in a rage against the Biharis. They had to leave their homes once again and settle in red cross camps. The biharis wanted to go to Pakistan, but where stuck because of a complication in the repatriation process. Although the Biharis live in refugee camps, they are not regarded as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees . This is because they where accepted as citizens in East Pakistan. As the years have gone both Pakistan and Bangladesh governments have political indecisive and done little to change the situation for the Bihari community.

I have read about the “ Geneva camp ” in Dhaka city, but I would like to find out if there is a camp in the Chittagong area. But I have to do some more research on this. The history of the Biharis is more complex than I have managed tell in this short text, and I'm sure you know it far better than me. I am therefore grateful for all the help I can get.