The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh Office has announced an exciting new videography contest aimed at engaging the public and encouraging citizens to share their personal experiences with the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line 6. Titled #MyMRTExperience, this contest invites individuals, filmmakers, and content creators alike to capture their daily journeys and interactions with the MRT, showcasing the impact it has had on their lives. This initiative aims to highlight how the MRT has transformed day-to-day commutes and contributed positively to urban mobility since its launch.
According to a press release from JICA, the MRT is the first metro rail system in Bangladesh and has been operational since December 2022, running from Uttara to Motijheel. With the videography contest, JICA hopes to collect compelling stories from daily commuters to reflect this evolution and development of urban transport.
To participate, interested individuals must upload their original self-recorded videos, which should not exceed two minutes, onto Facebook with the hashtags #MyMRTExperience, #JICABangladesh, and #DhakaMetroRail. Following their upload, participants are required to fill out an official submission form available online.
The deadline for submissions has been set for February 28, 2025. Participants are reminded to keep their Facebook profiles public to qualify for the contest and promote broader engagement with their entries. It’s important to note, only one submission per participant is permitted, ensuring the focus remains on quality over quantity.
Those whose videos are selected as the top three will share from a total prize pool of BDT 50,000, which will reward the most relevant, creative, and technically proficient entries. Videos will be evaluated based on their thematic relevance, creativity, technical quality, and overall impact, as well as their ability to highlight innovation and partnership.
"The contest aims to showcase how the MRT has transformed the daily lives of its passengers and contributed to Dhaka's urban mobility," stated JICA's press release, underscoring the motivation behind this creative initiative.
For anyone interested in learning more about the details and guidelines of the contest, JICA has urged participants to check their official Facebook page, where they can find additional information and updates about the event.
This contest not only provides individuals with the platform to express themselves and highlight their experiences but also fosters greater community engagement and awareness about the importance of the MRT system throughout Dhaka. It’s a fantastic opportunity for citizens to reflect on how the introduction of the MRT has positively influenced their environment and made commuting smoother and more efficient.
With the MRT being relatively new to the people of Dhaka, the stories shared through this contest are expected to illuminate the array of personal journeys from diverse perspectives. Are residents enthusiastic about the changes brought to their city? One must only wait and see what engaging submissions will emerge as participants start sharing their unique narratives.
Overall, the #MyMRTExperience contest is proving to be both a creative outlet for individuals and a means to showcase the transformative nature of public transport systems like the MRT, using the power of multimedia storytelling to draw connections within the communities of Dhaka.