Last Thursday night, the Bengali Students Association hosted A Concert for Bangladesh 2008 in an effort to raise funds for Bengali citizens affected by Cyclone Sidr.
Cyclone Sidr, a category 4 tropical cyclone that severely devastated the Southern coast of Bangladesh, ravished the country on November 15, 2007. It killed at least 3,500 people, and some sources estimate that number is closer to 10,000.
But why a concert? Inspired by the way history repeats itself, members of BSA decided to replicate on a smaller scale The Concert for Bangladesh, which took place in Aug. 1971 after Cyclone Bhola struck in Nov. 1970.
"I've been in Bangladesh during the monsoon season, so I've seen towns hit hard, but nothing compares to this," CAS junior Amit Ashraf said. "The 1971 Concert for Bangladesh raised $250,000 for the victims of Cyclone Bhola."
BSA members began planning as soon as news came of the estimated $450 million in damage. Local bands such as Fire Flies, The Hatch and NYU alumni band Julius C were quick to participate upon hearing what the event was for.
The concert opened with a heartfelt rendition of the Bengali national anthem sung by NYU's own Durba Chatterjee followed by spoken word from Mohammad Haque. Over 200 people came to give their support for those ravaged by Sidr.
"It's great to find a cause that the South Asians at NYU and the 50,000 Bengalis in New York City can rally around," CAS junior Rubaiyat Mahboob said.
Other acts included hip-hop battles between local emcees and a performance from hip-hop group The Last Broadcast.
BSA hoped to raise at least $5,000 for Building Resources Across Communities, formerly known as the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee. BRAC is a not-for-profit specializing in alleviating poverty in Asia and Africa.
"BRAC does a lot of on-the-ground programs," Mahboob said. "Their volunteers give families daily food and medical treatment, rebuild schools and homes and repay loans."
Money was raised from concert proceeds which included ticket sales, T-shirts and wristbands as well as sales of food donated by local New York City charities.
"This concert is just the beginning," Ashraf said. "The world needs to know that Bengalis are still suffering, and what better place to start than a global capital like New York City?"
Angela Tam is a contributing writer. E-mail her at campus@nyunews.com.
