BOLO Bangladesh Overseas Ladies Organisation

Post given by Shiuly Bishwas 10 yrs ago :-
গত কালকের দুটো স্ট্যাটাস বাকি পরে আছে! আগে আমাদের পিছিয়ে যাওয়া বর্ষ বরণের কথা লিখি! বৈশাখের ২৭ তম দিনে আমরা বরণ করে নিলাম আমাদের নতুন বাংলা বছর ১৪২২ সাল। আমাদের সবার প্রিয় Dr Zarina Anam আপা প্রতি বছর অনেক কষ্ট করেন, আমাদের সবার আনন্দের জন্য আমাদের বাচ্চাদের বাংলা সংস্কৃতি শেখানোর জন্য,ধরে রাখার জন্য ছোট পরিসরে হলেও আয়োজন করা হয় বর্ষ বরণ অনুষ্ঠান। এবারের অনুষ্ঠান টি ছিল বেশ বড়, পরিসরে আমাদের BOLO বাংলাদেশ ওভাড়শীজ লেডীশ অর্গানাইজেশন Newcastle and Middlesbrough County মিলে আয়োজন করেছিলো বর্ষ বরণ অনুষ্ঠান ৩০০ মানুষ মিলিত হয়েছিল। অনুষ্ঠানে এসেছিলেন Stockton County এর নবনির্বাচিত MP. আপা আমাদের জন্য গান গাইতে আনিয়েছিলেন নামকরা শিল্পী গৌরী চৌধুরী কে। অনুষ্ঠানে ছিল পিঠা বানানো প্রতিযোগিতা, অংকন প্রতিযোগিতা, যেমন খুশী তেমন সাজো প্রতিযোগিতা, বাংলাদেশি শাড়ি বিক্রয় এবং বাংলাদেশি খাবার বেগুণ ভর্তা, আলু ভর্তা, টমেটো ভর্তা, মাছ ভাজি্‌ মাছ ভুনা, মুরগী ভুনা, ডাল, ভেড়ার গোশত এবং গুড়ের পায়েস!!!!আমার দেশে আমি কখনো রমনার বটমূলে যাইনি, পড়া হয়নি লাল সাদা শাড়ি। বিদেশে বসে বসে শুধু দেখি সবাই দেশে কতো মজা করে নববর্ষ উৎযাপন করছে কিন্তু এবার অনেক মজা করেছি আমরা, আমার দুই পূচকো ছেলে তো জানটা ভরে মজা করছে। আপা কে ধন্যবাদ দিয়ে শেষ করা যাবে না। সবাই সবার কাজ অনেক ভালো ভাবে করেছে,শিরীন আপু, হলী ভাবি, নাভানা আপু সবাই।আমাকে দেওয়া কাজ গুলো আগামীতে আরও ভালো করে করবো কথা দিলাম। অনুষ্ঠান শেষে আপার পছন্দের গান ইষ্টি শণের রেল গাড়িটা মাঈপা চলে ঘড়ির কাঁটা গানের সাথে আমরা সবাই নেচেছি Was so much fun!!!!!!1

Message from Founder / Chairperson.

Dear Members,

With heavy hearts, we regret to announce that BOLO closed on January 6, 2025, as accepted and confirmed by the Charity Commission.

We are deeply grateful for the support of our loyal members and the community
that has supported us for the last 30 years (from 1995 to 2025).

We, the Executive Committee, share the difficult decision behind this closure.
Even during COVID, up to 2023, we had great support from our members and managed to fulfil our community engagement in all areas, including education, health, social, and cultural activities. With kind donations and member subscriptions, we raised funds for overseas students and skilled workers in different fields. Unfortunately, in the last few years, we have been struggling to maintain our objectives of empowering women here and in Bangladesh. The main reason for this has been a lack of volunteers.
We used to have 13-14 members on th executive committee, but this number dwindled to only four.

Due to difficulties running the organisation with such few members, I, the chairperson, resigned on November 15, 2024. As a result, the organisation could not continue to exist according to Charity Commission regulations. We successfully followed the steps to close the organisation, including submitting annual tax returns, Charity Commission annual returns, and the application for closure.

We are happy and proud to have accomplished our mission of empowering
women over these 30 years. We have helped four students to become doctors, one to become an engineer, about 10 to complete nursing degrees, and about six more to pursue nursing studies. Around 20 others are currently studying in schools and colleges.

We have provided four people with sewing machines, allowing them to earn money independently. One has successfully learned beautician skills. We also developed a sewing project that trains four women every three months, enabling them to earn money for their families. I would personally like to continue this project.

We have also extended a helping hand during disasters such as the Tsunami appeal and several floods in Bangladesh, where we distributed water pumps and sanitation supplies. We also took part in helping acid burn victims with a British team.

As a team, we learned many things, such as maintaining rules and regulations, teamwork, and respecting each other.

I would like to request that you continue your support to empower women in whichever way you choose and continue our journey.

Best wishes,

Dr. Zarina Sircar
Chairperson (Founder of the Organization)
February 7, 2025

A sad reflection of the day 20 yrs back today . Thanks to all our volunteers, artists & public to raise funds for this disaster. Hope the survivors have accepted life without their loved ones loved ones. They will never be forgotten.
XxDr. Z. Sircar , the founder of BOLO ( recent past charity registered list )

Bolo’s continuing process of learning . Better prepared for community services.
Chairperson & exec . Member attended capacity building workshop yesterday organised by Connected Voice in Newcastle.
At the end of the session we felt it would be fantastic if ->
We had more fund,
more Volunteers .
more community support .
Come forward to help us to feel fantastic.
Chairperson

Bolo’s AGM celebration on 9 th June 2024. It was a very successful event . Proud to present an achievable good reports after 4 yrs . Delayed due to COVID pandemic. Also due to lack of volunteers resulting less activities. Future of BOlO is uncertain unless very committed, proactive & friendly volunteers come forward to save BOLO .
Thanks to each & every one for their hard work & contribution to build BOLO today . For all those kind support & contributions BOLO managed to maintain the core objectives of Empowering women specifically in Bangladesh by Education & skill work .
At present 4 doctors , more than 10 nurses , several numbers with graduation & several pupils in school have been educated with the small grant of BOLO.
Also one sewing project in Rajshahi & several single sewing activities are running in several district of Bangladesh .
In this country , community activities, socialising & women’s health & education have been successful with several grants from Big lottery .
Wish BOLO further success with your support.
Best wishes,
Dr. Zarina Sircar ,
Founder ( since 1995)
& present Chairperson for continuous last 14 yrs .

14th May 2024

Dear Members

AGM INVITATION

On behalf of Bolo I would like to invite you to our forthcomng Annual general meeting (AGM). After covid this is our first AGM for a long time. I would very much appriciate it if you can join us and make it a suceesssful social event. Your are most welcome to bring a friend who would be interested to join BOLO .

Date: Sunday 9th June 2024
Venue:Newcastle Bangladeshi Assiciation (NBA).
246-248 Elswick road, NE4 6SN
Time: 12pm till 3pm.
For refreshments: £4 per person

This will be MEMBERS only event.

Please confirm your attendance for refreshment purpose. I kindly request you to confirm your attendance by 2nd June 2024.

Kind regards
Dr Zarina Sircar
Chairperson
BOLO





AGM Plan of the day


1. Registration 12pm

2. Welcome and Annual general report 12:30pm
by Chair Dr Z Sircar

3. Finacial report by Treasurer Shirin Hussain 12:50pm
-Student grant
-Skill grant
-Membership revenue

4. Past and present event report 1pm

5. Amendments 1:15pm

6. Forth coming election information 1:30pm

7. Refreshments and socialising onwards 1:45pm



Thank you

Eid Mubarak & Pohela Boishakh . Today BOlO with another community organisation of Newcastle called NBA ( Newcastle Bangladeshi Association) has celebrated this event in Newcastle. It was a very enjoyable & successful event. Peoples from the community from children to adults as a family attended. There were various stalls of deshi foods , clothes from long dress , shalwar kamiz to Saree’s present. Also Entertainment of Bengali songs .
Some photos attached .
Regards,
Chairperson of BOLO
Zarina Sircar

Hope most of us observing Ramadan very well. May Allah bless us to stay in right path & follow the righteous things to do .
To celebrate the end of Ramadan BOLO has organised Eid event.
People nearby are welcome to join us .