Nodi Rocks: A musical initiative to promote riverine beauty

"Nodi Rocks", a first of its kind initiative in Bangladesh by Salt Creatives, was launched on February 22 through a virtual event.

The key objective of this exciting project is to use music as a powerful tool to promote riverine beauty and raise awareness of climate change among the youth.  Seven popular bands of the country are associated with "Nodi Rocks".

Inspired by Chirkutt's Sharmin Sultana Sumi, "Jolbayu bachate cholo nodir kachey jai", is the slogan of the initiative, supported by the Swiss Embassy and Manusher Jonno Foundation. Salt Creatives aims to launch one song on every river of our country, to begin with.

Honourable Minister A K Abdul Momen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Honourable Minister Md Shahab Uddin, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Honorable State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Ambassador Nathalie Chuard, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, and Honourable Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation, exchanged greetings at the virtual launching ceremony.

Also present were Sudipto Mukerjee, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, Anjan Chowdhury, Director of Square Group,  Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, Runa Khan, Executive director of Friendship and Sharmin Sultana Sumi, Project initiator, Managing Director and Creative Director of Salt Creatives, along with the bands Ark, Cryptic Fate, Arbovirus, Chirkutt, Bangla Five, F Minor, and Smooches.

"Nodi Rocks seeks to draw the youth closer to the rivers of Bangladesh and motivate them to preserve the climate. In the first season, seven popular bands of the country will compose seven songs about seven important rivers of the country: Padma, Kushiyara, Sangu, Chitra, Pashur, Dahuk and Buriganga," said Sharmin Sultana Sumi. "The songs will be filmed on those rivers. Later, with these bands, there will be various creative plans around the rivers, including the Nodi Rocks Mega Concert all over the country."

"People's love for the rivers has decreased significantly over the years. However, these rivers enhance the economic position and the beauty of our country and they are also a part of our identity," explained A K Abdul Momen.

"Although there were 1,320 rivers in the country, at present, we have only 720 rivers left. We need to awaken the young and future generations about these invaluable resources, and music can be a great medium for it. So, I appreciate the mission behind Nodi Rocks. Morever, this initiative could be a catalyst for combatting climate change."