Listen to changemaker architect Sujaul Islam Khan, who hasbeen heavily involved in creating the 'Detail Area Plan' for Dhaka, a fast growing city.

He shares his hopes for an inclusive city that can be built if we can crate a bottom-up process. He also shares our challenges of not being able to implement these plans into practice, due to the self-interests of many influential stakeholders, who control our city for their own benefit, jeopardizing the health and wellbeing for everyone.

Follow My MARS mantra podcast, to listen to more inspiringstories from changemakers around the world and Bangladesh.

Host and Producer: Rumana Kabir

Co-producer: Ahsan Faisal

Editor: Zahid Sumon

Promotion: Tasnim Latif and Ahsan Faisal

Listen to the inspirational story of Dr. Rakia Ishra, a gynaecologist, teacher, mother and a rockstar! Ishra and her family is well known for forming a family rock band ASEIS. And behind her success lies the support of her loving family, who followed her throughout her journey to the rural under-privileged parts of Bangladesh. Transiting from Australia, being a full-time mum, Dr. Ishra carried on her career path with an aim to serve the people of Bangladesh. Host and Producer: Rumana KabirCo-producer and Editor: Zahid ShumonAssistant Producer and Promoter: Ahsan FaisalMusic: @ASEIS

Listen to the latest episode of My MARS mantra podcast, where changeaker Farhana Rashid , an architect and urban planner, shares her story. Farhana and her partner are relentlessly working to provide basic services in Bangladesh. Farhana was inspired by her family members to choose this unconventional career path to design a sustainable model of public amenities, mainly toilets. We both echoed our own and other women's experiences of not being able to use public facilities across Bangladesh and elsewhere. This triggered Farhana to make a difference.

Host and Producer: Rumana Kabir

Co-producer and promoter: Ahasan Faisal

Editor and graphics: Zahid Sumon

Music: এসেইস-Aseis

মোহাম্মদ এজাজের অন্তর্দৃষ্টিপূর্ণ গল্প শুনুন । যিনি একজন গবেষক এবং বর্তমান ঢাকা উত্তর সিটি কর্পোরেশনের প্রশাসক। আমার মঙ্গল মন্ত্র (My MARS Mantra) পডকাস্টের এই পর্বে, আপনি বুঝতে পারবেন কিভাবে পরিকল্পনাহীন উন্নয়ন প্রকৃতি ধ্বংস করে এবং সামাজিক ও রাজনৈতিক অস্থিরতা তৈরি করে, ঢাকা ও চট্টগ্রামের উদাহরন সহ , মোহাম্মদ এজাজ প্রকৃতি, ইতিহাস এবং সম্প্রদায় ভিত্তিক সমাধানের একজন দৃঢ় সমর্থক। যে কোনো উন্নয়ন প্রকল্পে সংস্কৃতির প্রতি সম্মান, স্থানীয় সম্পৃক্ততা এবং ঐতিহাসিক জ্ঞানের গুরুত্ব দেওয়া উচিত। মোহাম্মদ এজাজ জোর দিয়েছেন যে ঢাকা শহরের রাজনৈতিক এবং উন্নয়ন সিদ্ধান্ত আরও পরিবেশগত সমস্যার সৃষ্টি করেছে । তার গবেষণায় দেখা গেছে যে তুরাগ নদীর পাশের সম্প্রদায়ের সঙ্গে একাত্মতা হয়ে কাজ করা তাদের জীবনমান উন্নত করতে সাহায্য করেছে , যদিও শিল্প দূষণ তাদের জীবিকা ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত করেছে । এজাজ স্থানীয় এবং প্রকৃতি-কেন্দ্রিক সমাধানে বিশ্বাসী এবং সামাজিক ও রাজনৈতিক অন্যায় এবং পরিকল্পনাহীন উন্নয়নের বিরুদ্ধে লড়তে দৃঢ়প্রতিজ্ঞ। আরও অনুপ্রেরণামূলক গল্প শুনতে আমার মঙ্গল মন্ত্র (My MARS Mantra ) ইউটিউব চ্যানেলটি সাবস্ক্রাইব করুন।

Abdul Kalek's story will inspire you to not seek for status but to be honest for ones own peace of mind. Khaleq has been a driver throughout his career, starting by driving for the East-Pakistan (now Bangladesh) Regiment (EPR) before the independence war of 1971. He shares his vivid memories of near death experiences on how he felt as a young man during the war. And most importantly, how he refrained from immoral and alluring opportunities that was offered to him during the chaos of post-liberation law and order breakdown. Abdul Khaleq remains to be one of the un-sung heroes of Bangladesh, who did not obtain any 'Freedom fighter certificate', which many people claimed and took advantage of, despite not being a true freedom fighter.

আব্দুল খালেকের গল্প আমাদের শেখায় যে জীবনে সম্মান বা মর্যাদার জন্য নয়, বরং মানসিক শান্তির জন্য প্রচেষ্টা করা উচিত। তিনি তাঁর পুরো কর্মজীবন একজন ড্রাইভার হিসেবে কাজ করেছেন, শুরু করেছিলেন পূর্ব পাকিস্তান (বর্তমান বাংলাদেশ) রেজিমেন্ট (EPR)-এ স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধের আগে। তিনি যুদ্ধকালীন সময়ে মৃত্যুর মুখোমুখি হওয়ার অভিজ্ঞতা এবং সেই সময়ে একজন তরুণ হিসেবে কেমন অনুভব করেছিলেন, তা স্মৃতিচারণ করেছেন। সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ বিষয় হলো, স্বাধীনতা-পরবর্তী বিশৃঙ্খল পরিস্থিতিতে তিনি নৈতিকতা বিরোধী ও প্রলোভনপূর্ণ সুযোগ থেকে নিজেকে দূরে রেখেছিলেন। আব্দুল খালেক বাংলাদেশের এক অজানা বীর, যিনি প্রকৃত মুক্তিযোদ্ধা হওয়া সত্ত্বেও কোনো 'মুক্তিযোদ্ধার সনদপত্র' গ্রহণ করেননি। অনেকেই এই সার্টিফিকেট নিয়ে সুযোগ নিয়েছেন, অথচ প্রকৃত অর্থে তারা মুক্তিযোদ্ধা ছিলেন না। Podcast host and producer : Rumana Kabir

Host and producer: Rumana Kabir

Assistant-producer: Ahsan Fasial

Co-producer and Editor: Zahid Shumon

Promoter: Tasnim Latif and Ahsan Faisal

Music: ⁠‪@aseis‬⁠

Listen to the inspiring story of Tanvir Chowdhury, a renowned journalist covering the crisis reporting on Bangladesh for the Al Jazeera news channel. As a child during the 1971 war of Bangladesh, Tanvir was inspired to see one international journalist, reporting over the phone to spread Bangladesh news to the world. Tanvir grew up in Bangladesh and left for the United States at a young age, where he trained himself as a journalist. He shares his views of growing up within the multicultural and inclusive American society. Now many Bangladeshis and others from immigrant backgrounds are excelling in their career worldwide. The key to this is to have a strong self-belief and to adapt to a new culture. Tanvir is now settled in Bangladesh, embracing the challenges and seeing many opportunities to report Bangladesh's news to the world.

Listen to my wise Civil Servant colleague Keith Thorpe, who has worked for the UK government for 50 years. Keith shares how he worked in the age of no internet, to managing data on consulting for Heathrow Airport's new terminal, to many other notable work in the government, for which he was rewarded OBE, an honour from the Queen. Keith also shares his academic research experience in Iran and now currently renovating is family cottage that was damaged by flood. Keith comes from a very humble background and wanted to become a farmer. However, his craving for knowledge and his passion for books enabled him to be a dedicated civil servant for so long.

Bibi Russell, is a global legend and a fashion icon from Bangladesh. She established a mind-blowing career in the fashion scene worldwide. During the seventies, Bibi went to study fashion during in the UK. She then enjoyed working with many world class designers and as an international fashion model. Bibi left the allure of the West and returned to Bangladesh. She has now dedicated her knowledge to revive the traditional crafts from the global South. Bibi regularly gets invited as State Guest to many countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Bibi shares her most satisfying stories by supporting over 35,000 traditional weavers of Bangladesh and also by challenging our own culture and perception of beauty.

In this episode you will be inspired by Bibi's desire to present a “Positive Bangladesh” to the world. Bibi has won over hundreds of national and international awards and continues to run her own social enterprise Fashion for Development, to foster creativity and to celebrate our heritage. Bibi is a role model, who is committed to eradicate poverty, by generating employment and empowering men and women of rural Bangladesh.