Folk queen partners with Brac to fight coronavirus socially

Popular folk singer Momtaz Begum has partnered with the largest non-government organisation, Brac, to sensitise people about the prevention of the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

As part of the awareness-making programme, the famous singer has made a new composition – in association with Brac – about the abiding rules of social distancing, handwashing and respiratory hygiene to tackle the pandemic, according to a statement issued on Monday.

Dear people of my country/ Artist Momtaz is here/ Favourite with all of you/ Sharing a great feeling of mine/ When my friend coming back to homeland/ Thoughtful for good of others/ Locks himself up in-home/ For 14 days on/ Wraps me in with/ A true feeling of goodness – thus flows the messages to tackle Covid-19 from the sweet voice of Momtaz.

The famed singer, also a sitting parliament member, has earned the moniker "queen of folk" from millions of fans at home and abroad.

The lyrics carrying awareness messages is set on a great hit track of the artist. The song will create impacts on society, helping the people to adopt the behaviour imperative to prevent coronavirus, hopes Brac officials.

The song will be launched on Tuesday.

Besides, as part of its creating and sharing series of digital and social media messaging content for behaviour-change communication, Brac has already paired with Kuddus Boyati, another noted folk singer of Bangladesh, the statement reads.

In this regard, Momtaz Begum said, "It is our duty to come forward during this national crisis and help people in any way we can."

Moutushi Kabir, director, Communications and Outreach of Brac and Brac International, said, "The most important arms to fight the pandemic at present is public awareness and change in our daily habits and behaviours."

BRAC is actively supporting the government of Bangladesh and partnering with a wide number of private sector and non-government organisations to fight Covid-19, she said.

We are grateful that popular artists like Momtaz Begum and Kuddus Boyati have come forward to help us in taking the message to the mass, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, added Moutushi Kabir.

She also stressed that concerted initiatives should be undertaken to refute the spread of fear and rumours around Covid-19 symptoms that are often barring people with fever, chest congestion or breathing conditions from seeking treatment from professional physicians or health facilities.

This is part of Brac's ongoing public awareness and behavioural change interventions to stop the spread and social transmission of Covid-19.

The messages are relayed extensively in rural areas by Brac frontline staff, reinforced through miking, social media and mass media promotion and cascaded through 16 community radio networks across Bangladesh.