The Bangladeshi co-production of Sesame Street, Sisimpur is beloved and trusted among Bangladeshi children and parents alike. Sisimpur delivers critical early education through television, in classrooms, and with community outreach. Set in a vibrant and colorful neighborhood, the series, which launched in 2005, features locally beloved characters like Halum the Bengal tiger; a small blue monster called Ikri Mikri; Shiku, a curious and inventive jackal; and Tuktuki, a vivacious young girl. Original music and locally produced live-action and animated segments reflect the rich artistic heritage of Bangladeshi culture. Sisimpur is designed to meet the learning needs of children ages 3-8 across social classes and different regions of the country. It emphasizes literacy and language, math and science, and socio-emotional skills like mutual respect and understanding, as well as delivering lessons on health and hygiene, disaster preparedness, financial empowerment, and childhood injury and accident prevention. Beyond the nationally beloved television program, Sisimpur uses innovative means to engage children within their own communities, including providing content and training to childcare centers and bringing Sisimpur to remote areas with mobile screenings on vans and rickshaws.
