Greetings everyone! This Mohammad Sumon! from #Bangladesh

^{Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well by the grace of the Almighty.}

Today, I am very excited to share my entry for the Contest organized by the Steem Space community. A special thanks to the community admins & moderators @adeljose & @kibreay001 Brother, for hosting such an engaging competition.

^{Spreading positivity and creativity through my words.}

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Our Surroundings: Let´s Talk About The News

The best way to get to know the culture of a region is to see its songs, food, and celebrations. On January 8 this year, a team of 35 people from Dhaka traveled to the seaside city of Cox's Bazar by the reserved bus 'Iconic Express' to attend our company's annual conference. Our destination was the well-known Hotel Kollol by J&Z Group adjacent to the sea beach of Kalatali. The total cost of our travel, accommodation, and food for the entire event was about BDT 500,000 (five lakh), (which is 102,040 STEEM).

Apart from completing the official meeting, the most interesting and turning point of this trip for me was the night cultural program at Kasundi Restaurant, the interior of Hotel Kollol. The tunes of local folk songs in the open air under the starry night sky filled the entire environment with a wonderful cultural atmosphere.

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A Cultural Evening on a Sampan Stage & Corporate Experience at Cox's Bazar

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1. What recent social and/or cultural events have taken place in your community?

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In my opinion, open-air cultural concerts play a tremendous social and cultural role in showcasing our own heritage and culture in a tourist city. Recently, a grand Live Cultural Night was organized with the participation of local artists on the premises of our hotels, Kallol and Kasundi restaurants.

In my view, the most special aspect here is their cultural stage. The stage is not an ordinary platform; rather, it is very skillfully made in the style of the Sampan (traditional wooden boat), the lifeblood of Cox's Bazar. When young artists stand on that colorful Sampan stage and sing folk songs and lullabies to the tune of acoustic guitars and musical instruments, a deep and sincere connection is created between the local culture and the visiting tourists.

^{Cover: Live music performance by artists playing guitars on a colorful stage shaped like a traditional 'sampan' (boat)}

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2. What cultural initiatives are being promoted by community or government organizations in your area for the coming months?

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As far as I know, in the coming days, local cultural organizations and the Bangladesh Tourism Board are taking some special initiatives to preserve the country's heritage, focusing on the tourist season:

• Beach Baul and Folk Festival: Regular folk music and Baul song events will be held in the open field by the sea beach.

• Performances by small ethnic groups: Organizing exhibitions of traditional folk dances, music, and handicrafts of the Rakhine community living in the Cox's Bazar region, which will showcase our multicultural identity to tourists.

A beautiful picture of me with my colleague	Receiving awards and certificates in recognition of work at the official session

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3. What challenges are cultural event organizers currently facing in keeping local traditions alive?

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I think that organizers are facing 3 major social challenges in preserving folk and indigenous culture:

Folk artists do not get enough sponsorship like pop or modern music artists.

As the younger generation is more inclined towards modern and Western music, our mainstream folk and folk music are getting a bit neglected.

Government restrictions on the use of sound systems after certain hours in tourist areas and the high cost of renting good venues are one of the biggest obstacles for organizers.

An overhead view of the artificial grass-covered cultural dining area, illuminated by hanging tinsel lights	On the way up the stairs, there is a barbecue counter and an entire cultural arena

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4. What social or grassroots movements are gaining prominence in the streets of your city or region?

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I find it quite positive that the local youth are now much more aware of keeping cultural and social spaces clean. Several grassroots-level voluntary organizations are raising awareness and a movement on the streets and beaches of Cox's Bazar to create a Plastic-Free Beach Movement. They are working to clean the beach and prevent the misuse of plastic.

^{The enchanting night lighting of Kasundi Restaurant}

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5. Could you mention any recent artistic works or projects in your region that might be of public interest?

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I have noticed that recently, the giant sculpture called Plastic Monster, made of plastic waste collected from the sea beach, has caught the attention of the public. It spreads the message of protecting the environment and culture. In addition, the murals based on indigenous culture and nature painted on the walls of Marine Drive are captivating tourists.

^{Besides enjoying the music, my presence at the dining table}

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6. Environmental impact & Cultural Media Showcase (With pictures + videos) & Location (Steem Atlas pin)

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Environmental & Cultural Impact:

The open-air cultural atmosphere of this restaurant, surrounded by artificial grass carpets and greenery, is wonderful. However, in my opinion, care should be taken to ensure that the smoke rising from the restaurant's live barbecue counter does not disrupt the enjoyment of the audience, and the sound level of the concert should be kept in balance with the environment.

^{Live concert: Cultural Program}

Live concert video I recorded:

I recorded this 5-minute video from the premises of Kasundi Restaurant. In it, I tried to capture the beautiful scene of the open-air atmosphere with the night lights shining, the artists standing on the stage of a sampan-shaped boat performing live folk music on acoustic guitars, the guests enjoying the music under the open sky, and the beautiful scene of hot kebabs being prepared on the live barbecue counter on one side.

^{Besides listening to music, we had dinner at Kasundi Restaurant (barbecue fish, kebabs, naan bread and salad)}

Particular	Information
Name of the Place	Hotel Kollol by J&Z Group (Kasundi Restaurant)
Date of Visit	January 08, 2026
Address	Hotel Kollol by J&Z Group, Sea Beach Road, Kalatali, Cox's Bazar
Google Maps	Link
Steem-atlas	[//]:# (!steematlas 21.42842489 lat 91.9739232 long Hotel Kollol by J&Z Group (Kasundi Restaurant) d3scr)
Cultural Performance	Live Concert at Sampan Mancha (Daily 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
Opening Hours	8:00 AM to 11:30 PM (Every day)
Entry Fee	Free (for Hotel Guests and Restaurant Customers)
Available Products	Live BBQ, Seafood, Grilled Fish, Kebabs, Naan, Bengali Cuisine & Snacks
Payment method	Cash and Digital MFS (bKash/Nagad/Cards)
Device	Samsung Galaxy A04

Video Link

IPFS Video

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Conclusion

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After a busy day at work, spending time in the open air with local culture and folk music was a very calming experience for me. I think the combination of this song from the Sampan Mancha and the delicious food is a great effort to maintain our tradition, which has given our entire team of 35 people new joy and energy.

I have set 10% as a beneficiary for @steem-atlas to support this project.

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I would like to invite @ninapenda, @m-fdo, and @saxopedia to participate in this contest. Hope to see your wonderful entries!

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If you enjoyed my post, feel free to upvote, comment, and share your thoughts. Your support keeps me motivated!

Thank you very much ❤️

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