As part of Oxfam’s Film for Change 2026, I had the opportunity to work on a documentary focusing on the Bedey community, an ethnic community whose traditional way of life has increasingly come under pressure from social and economic changes.
The documentary explores the lives, struggles and changing realities of the Bedey community and examines how development and social transformation can leave marginalised communities at the edges of opportunity.
I worked on the film as the Scriptwriter and First Assistant Director (1st AD). As the Scriptwriter, I contributed to developing the film’s narrative and shaping how the experiences of the community would be communicated through the documentary. As First AD, I was involved in coordinating the production process and supporting the director and crew during filming.
Working on the documentary gave me an opportunity to combine my interests in storytelling, filmmaking and social and environmental issues. More importantly, it allowed me to work closely with stories that are often overlooked and to explore how documentary filmmaking can create space for marginalised communities to be seen and heard.
The film was developed through Film for Change 2026, an initiative supported by Oxfam, and was presented as part of the programme’s technical screening at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).
This experience strengthened my understanding of documentary storytelling and reinforced my belief in cinema as a powerful tool for documenting lived realities, questioning inequality and bringing overlooked stories into public conversation.
Film: Baida
Programme: Film for Change 2026
Supported by: Oxfam
Subject: The Bedey Community
Roles: Scriptwriter and First Assistant Director
Screening: Film for Change 2026 Technical Screening, ULAB