As the winter morning draped the entire city of Dhaka in fog, the dawn’s light remained undeterred, casting a bone-chilling coldness. Street lampposts still held the flickering glow of lamps as a few ventured onto the city’s highways.
Amidst this typical scene, the atmosphere around the Riseup Labs headquarters painted a different picture. The building witnessed a buzz of activity as small tremors of excitement rippled through the staff, fueled by various imaginations of the upcoming journey – the Annual Retreat 2023, commencing shortly after their two-day tour.
Riseup Labs, the IT company, opted for a unique initiative to celebrate not only the new year but also to acknowledge and appreciate the accomplishments of the entire company. The “Spotlights of Riseup Labs” was organized during the Annual Retreat 2023 tour, held at the Basecamp Resort in Gazipur over the weekend (December 30 and 31).
The tour aimed to make the entire experience enjoyable for the staff, blending adventure sports with cultural events.
The employees gathered at the head office around 6 a.m., marking the beginning of their journey to joy. Despite traveling in five different vehicles, the team members created a festive atmosphere with music and dance, arriving at their destination shortly after.
The Riseup Labs workers eagerly engaged in various activities during the tour, including on-tree challenges, on-ground challenges, mud trails, river crossing, water zorbing, zip-lining, and archery. Everyone actively participated in these physical exercises, whether traversing on tree branches or maneuvering through challenging terrains.
Like Shakib, newcomers to the Riseup Labs family praised the initiative for organizing exceptional and exciting games. Shakib expressed his thrill, stating that although the visit was an annual event, this was his first participation, and the announcement of the Annual Retreat sparked his interest. His excitement grew exponentially after actively participating in a diverse range of activities.
Mashiur Rahman, the operations manager, emphasized that the visit aimed to strengthen relationships among the staff and enhance harmony. He highlighted the mental labor of Riseup Labs workers throughout the year and justified the annual retreat as a means to rejuvenate the team, preventing burnout from their client projects.
He also mentioned the regular efforts, including Game Day, Color Day, and Quiz Day, to keep the team engaged and energized.
On the evening of The “Spotlights of Riseup Labs” event on December 30, Riseup Labs’ Founder & CEO Mr. Ershadul Hoque, the Head of Product Development Mr. Md. Rafiquzzaman Rafiq, Operations Manager Mr. Enamul Hoque Ratul, Sr. Business Development Manager Mr. KH. Md Hamim Zakaria, Technical Lead Mr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, Lead Strategist and SEO Editor Mr. Naseef Ishat, and Executive, Communication & Outreach Ms. Mehnaz Irtika showcased various topics, successful projects, product launches, and innovations.
The presentation concluded with recognizing and rewarding the best staff in different sections, acknowledging their exceptional success, leadership skills, and contributions to the company.
This event celebrated outstanding performance, innovation, and teamwork across the company’s last quarter.
The cultural event held at night added another layer of enjoyment as talented singers from Riseup Labs performed popular songs, creating a harmonious blend of melody and celebration.
Reflecting on the two-day visit, Ershadul Haque, the founder and CEO of Riseup Labs, expressed pride in the outstanding contributions of the staff and considered the event a small but significant effort to build a positive work environment.
The following morning, the Riseup Labs family continued their enjoyment with activities like football, badminton, and kayaking, piercing through the lingering winter fog, and resuming their journey, signifying that the joyous journey never truly comes to an end.