The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Magic Tin Chakar Taroka, a talent hunt contest for the rickshaw-pullers and CNG drivers, started its journey on June 9. Shishir Bindu, a social welfare organisation, arranged the contest with the rickshaw-pullers of Mirpur area. Munni Saha went there to cover a report on the contest. The organisation had no big plan about the contest. Members of the organisation had not ability to run the contest.

Shishir Salman and ZA Tushar of Shishir Bindu spent their own money and tagged a leaflet with the slogan 'Gaite hobe gola chhere' on the backside of the rickshaws. About 3,000 rickshaw-pullers registered their names to see the leaflets. The organisation took Tk 35 from each rickshaw-puller as registration fees. About 150 rickshaw-pullers gathered at Mirpur on June 9 to compete in the selection round. Different television channels aired their activities and inspirations. Then ATN Bangla came forward and extended hands to bear all costs of the contest. Then Square Toiletries Ltd came to sponsor the event. Then it named 'Magic tin chakar taroka.' Shishir Bindu coordinated the whole event. In cooperation with Magic the primary round was held at four venues in the city. This is the background history of the contest of 'Magic tin chakar taroka' for the rickshaw-pullers.

Some 107 contestants were selected to compete in the second round. ATN Bangla will organise the planning and direction of gala round of the five episodes. Twenty contestants will perform in the gala round by two parts. Then 10 will be selected for the next round. Then five will be selected and finally three contestants will be awarded as 'Best Three.' Then audience and viewers will select the 'Tin chakar taroka' by SMS voting. The winner will get Tk one lakh cash and best 10 will get Th 15,000 each. A solo album will be released with the songs of the best performer and a mixed album will be released with the songs of 10 best performers, said the organisers.

The first episode of the contest to be aired on ATN Bangla at 8:45pm on September 1. Out of 20 contestants, 10 will perform in this round. The rest 10 will perform on the next Monday. Noted theatre personality and actor Asaduzzaman Nur will moderate the show. This will be the first job as moderator for him. He has agreed to moderate the show to encourage these labour class honoured persons. Folk artiste Momtaz will be also present as guest judge at the show. She did not give any mark. She will be present only for encouraging them (the contestants) till the last day of the event.

ZA Tushar and Dr Momtaz Begum Momota, teacher of the Department of Music of UODA, will be present as judges in the contest. They have been performing as judges from the beginning of the contest. Munni Saha will coordinate and direct the whole programme on ATN Bangla.