The COVID-19 pandemic had brought the world to a halt. Although daily news updates and social media feeds were riddled with fear, frustration, misconceptions, and uncertainties regarding the coronavirus, they were paralleled with scientific research, myth-busters, and extraordinary initiatives led by ordinary people to fight the pandemic. BIGD, along with a number of experts and professionals from different fields, had collaborated together as a part of “করোনায় ঐক্য” (Unity in Corona): Information, Initiatives, and Research – an initiative to bring together all this information under one platform.
The initiative officially kick-started through a webinar which began with a demo of the web portal by Mridul Chowdhury, Founder, and CEO of mPower Social Enterprise. The primary output of this initiative was a web portal – Coronabd.net – which aimed to integrate such positive initiatives and evidence-based information, helping in the battle against COVID-19. This website could help identify key strengths and abilities, hopefully creating a space where inspiration and a clear sense of direction could be gained from each other’s initiatives.
Panellists included Mridul Chowdhury, Founder, and CEO of mPower Social Enterprise; Dr. Imran Matin, Executive Director of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University; Dr. Shahaduz Zaman, Reader in Medical Anthropology and Global Health at the University of Sussex; and Din M Sumon Rahman, PhD, Professor of Media Studies and Journalism at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). The discussion was moderated by Zaki Haider, Director of Innovation at mPower Social Enterprises.
The website, Coronabd.net, brought together multiple perspectives and stakeholders. It contained information that played a crucial role in developing policy recommendations for the government and also served as a repository of content for local leaders who were driving community initiatives to tackle the pandemic crisis.
