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Bangladesh is Located in the north-eastern part of South Asia. The majestic Himalayas stand some distance to the north, while in the south lays the Bay of Bengal. West Bengal borders on the west and in the east lay the hilly and forested regions of Tripura, Mizoram (India) and Myanmar. These picturesque geographical boundaries frame a low lying plain of about 1,47,570 square kilometers, criss-crossed by innumerable rivers and streams. Mighty rivers are Padma (Ganges), Brahmaputra (Jamuna), Meghna and Karnafuli. Civilization in the Bengal delta dates back more than 4,300 years. The borders of present-day Bangladesh were established during the British partition of Bengal and India in 1947, when the region became East Pakistan, part of the newly formed state of Pakistan. It was separated from West Pakistan by 1,600 km (994 mi) of Indian Territory. Due to a desire for political, economic and linguistic self-determination, popular agitation and civil disobedience grew against the Pakistani state. This culminated in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The People’s Republic of Bangladesh was founded as a constitutional, secular, democratic, multiparty, parliamentary republic. After independence, Bangladesh went through periods of poverty and famine, as well as political turmoil and military coups. The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by considerable advances in economic, political, and social development.
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Bangladesh has made impressive gains in key human development indicators in recent years. According to the 2018 UNDP Human Development Index Statistical Update, Bangladesh ranks 136th among 189 countries with an HDI score of 0.608, placing it among countries considered to have achieved medium human development. 8 million people have moved out of poverty since 2010. The country is also on track to reach the first Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. But even as Bangladesh has taken these considerable steps towards poverty alleviation, many challenges remain. As of 2016, almost a quarter of the population (24.3%) still lives in poverty. The constant threat of shocks – natural, political, or economic – the uncertain impact of globalization and an increasingly competitive international trade environment impede higher growth rates. In addition, structural changes in rural Bangladesh have spurred rapid economic migration. This exacerbates urban poverty, creates a lack of reliable work and leads to congestion and limited shelter in urban areas. The rate of reduction in urban poverty has decreased in the last few years, only decreasing by 2.4% percentage points (from 21.3% to 18.9%). Bangladesh thus faces considerable challenges to sustain and build on the achievements of the last decade, and to remain on track to meet its targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Bangladesh is the world’s eighth most populous country and is also one of the most densely populated. The elected parliament in Bangladesh’ parliamentary electoral system is called the Jatiyo Sangsad. Bangladesh is a founding member of SAARC, the Developing 8 Countries, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation (BCIM). It is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement. Bangladesh is also the world’s largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions. In 2018, Bangladesh met the three UN criteria for LDC graduation, pending two triennial reviews in 2021 and 2024. Bangladesh has a centralized governance regime and a complex geography. It is vital these inequalities are addressed if poverty is to be further reduced, and a host of future problems associated with social exclusion avoided. While the country did well in meeting its headline MDG obligations, the quality and durability of some outcomes remains inadequate in the current SDG era. Major Service delivery concerns must be addressed for more effectively improving the quality of governance in Bangladesh. As inequalities get more profound and complex, there is a need to look beyond aggregate data to see whether disadvantaged groups get access to the services they need, as well as how performance varies geographically. Bangladesh retains a deep commitment to social solidarity and to a progressive development agenda. The country was one of the most successful development achievers in the MDG era and continues to do well in terms of the SDGs, including being on target to have zero extreme poverty by 2030. This is most clear in relation to maternal mortality, where Bangladesh successfully overcame a significant challenge, and, as of 2015, has brought this figure down to 176 per 100,000 births. Bangladesh’s vulnerability to disasters is significant, but the country’s track record has been exceptional at improving human security and saving lives.
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The health system of Bangladesh is currently facing competing demands: while shifting the health systems focus towards the COVID-19 response, the pandemic is disrupting the delivery of essential and lifesaving health, population and nutrition services. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have long-term impact at individual level, nationwide and across the globe, on key areas such as health care, food and nutrition, social and economy. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is making policymakers around the world rethink the healthcare systems of their respective countries. There have been growing concerns over how to make the healthcare systems better adapt to crisis like this. Developing nations like Bangladesh have suffered tremendously, which makes way for a discourse on how things can be better in terms of healthcare. In the context of the Covid-19 crisis, many researchers have identified some key issues in Bangladesh’s healthcare system, such as inequality in the healthcare sector and the effect of poverty on healthcare services, lack of mental healthcare facilities, exorbitant costs, absence of health insurance, ineffective administration, shortage of staff and equipment, lack of oversight in the pharmaceutical industry, corruption and information gap.
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Some countries have started COVID-19 vaccine roll out in the past few weeks and most people are wondering when the long-cherished first vaccine shipment will arrive in Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh has drafted a national deployment and vaccination plan to vaccinate 80% of the population in four stages. Unfortunately, as the crisis caused by COVID-19 is unlike any other crisis seen in the past, the country lacks infrastructure, logistics, resources and experience to accomplish this mammoth task. Population-wide vaccination requires the implementation of several factors, including but not limited to: increase capacity of the existing cold chain, recruit and train vaccinators, establish strong leadership, ensure proper coordination, launch awareness campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy. Proper management of the cold chain is vital to maintain the required temperature in which the vaccine shall remain potent. Therefore, it is critical to increase the capacity of the existing cold chain as a huge part of the country’s cold chain is occupied with the Measles-Rubella vaccine. Necessary measures should be taken to build new storage facilities, purchase equipment and logistics, confirm constant power supply in the storage and distribution sites, supply adequate storage vehicles and ensure careful handling as well as disposal of vials. Strong leadership is required to ensure that previously observed in coordination and miscommunication among different departments in the country does not hinder the successful implementation of vaccine deployment policy. A high-profile implementation committee, led by a high-official from the Prime Minister’s Office, should be formed to facilitate the effective implementation of the vaccine policy. Bangladesh has taken the commendable step to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Serum Institute of India (SII) to get 30 million doses of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. In addition, Bangladesh is expecting to get 68 million doses in 2021 from the GAVI Alliance (formerly Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) under the COVAX (The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility) facility.
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The COVID-19 pandemic is rampaging over countries across the globe, and Bangladesh is also facing its share of severe impact both in terms of loss of lives and slowdown of economy. COVID-19 is expected to leave a permanent mark on the trajectory of delivering SDGs both at country and global levels. Before the onset of COVID-19, overall poverty was declining in the country, to approx. 22% but recent post-COVID estimates imply that overall poverty could climb back to earlier eras at 43%. Marginalized and vulnerable populations face bigger challenges to safeguard their lives and livelihood. Two challenges are relevant from the perspective of structural disadvantages affecting these people – pre-existing vulnerabilities that may get emphasized due to the pandemic, and new vulnerabilities that may push these citizens further behind. Within the very difficult times with the onset of COVID-19 potentially damaging all of our lives, the challenges of poverty and inequality take on even more significance than before. It is expected that these usually left-behind groups are likely to be in dire need of policy support for resumption and recovery of their economic activities and social development. It is the right time to comprehend how post-COVID-19 uncertainties will affect SDG delivery, particularly favoring the left behind communities, in the specific country context.
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In Bangladesh country context, everything is controlled through politics which sometimes creates many obstacles to the livelihood of the grassroots and under privileged people. Although our constitution has given equal rights to get the justice and as a citizen of the country [Article 27(A)], but reality is different. This study tries to understand the role of the government, service providers and duty bearers during the Covid 19 period. The report has developed and prepared based on the findings of the Kathmandu Democracy Forum held in November 2020, and focused on updates between November 2020 and January 2021 on human rights and democracy and the civil society response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to democracy. The present Bangladesh National monitoring report covered the government and civil society response to the COVID-19 in terms of the SDGs, human rights and democracy from the civil society perspective. A set of recommendations also prepared for the CSOs, National Policy Makers and International Development actors for the next course of action. SDG’s basic philosophy ‘no one legging behind’ is the reality and there is no option to skip somebody or exclusion any segment of the society. That is the high time for Global leaders as well as national leaders for appropriately address the disparity and social goods for every citizen of the globe. Within the last two or three month we have surprisingly seeing the self centred attitudes and actions of riches and developed countries for capturing initiatives for Covid vaccine and ignored the humanities of human beings of under and least developed countries. It is really disappointing and again remind us the thousands and thousands kilometre difference between commitment and reality. We hope the active citizens of the developed countries will be pressurized their government for pro-poor global policies for overcoming the global pandemic within a short time.(to be continued)
Many Bangladeshi host communities are virtually as impoverished and vulnerable to exploitation as the migrants. Widespread impressions of unfair or preferential treatment for Rohingya refugees have been fueled by the scale and exposure of the international response (which is still insufficient). Intercommunal or extremist violence, whether between Rohingya and host communities or along the complicated religious and ethnic lines that further separate both groups, could have disastrous consequences, especially for women and children caught in the midst. However, the Rohingya crisis situation has adverse impacts on the host community in the cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh. with creates problems, it has excessive pressure, and creates dysfunction among the communities has been aroused. The dysfunction of the social structure has decreased community cohesion among the communities. Community cohesion is the situation where a shared and common vision and sense of belonging for all communities which have different backgrounds. It also denotes a trustworthy relationship and common sense among the communities from different cultures and backgrounds. However, the host community engagement strategy is to improve social cohesion and reduce the drivers of conflict and violence in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar District.
Methodology:
This study was an evaluation study in nature where a mixed approach was used to frame the shaping of the data analysis. A total of five unions were covered by the study, while three unions such as Nhila, Whykong, and Baherchara of Teknaf Upazila, and Two unions such as Raja Palong and Palong Khali of Ukhiya Upazila under Cox’s Bazar District. The study included 100 beneficiaries who were interviewed with a questionnaire schedule. In this study, a total of 12 Key Informant Interviews were conducted in which important stakeholders were interviewed. Moreover, a total of 04 Focus Group Discussion sessions were conducted with interview guidelines where 08 stakeholders and beneficiaries were present in every FGD session in the study area. The questionnaire for the sample survey, interview guidelines for KIIs, and FGD guidelines were used to collect the data. The sample was selected as per provided list of the beneficiaries by the project implementing organization.(to be continued)
টিউলিপ ফুল বাংলাদেশে খুবই নতুন এক প্রজাতির ফুল। এই ফুলকে ইউরোপের অনেক দেশেই ফুলের রাণী বলে ডাকা হয়। তবে আমাদের দেশের সব অঞ্চলে এই ফুলের জন্য যথাযথ আবহাওয়া ও ভূমিরুপ না থাকায় এই ফুলের চাষ নেই বললেই চলে। আমাদের দেশের উত্তরাঞ্চলের শুধু পঞ্চগড় জেলায় এই ফুলের জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় আবহাওয়া বছরের নির্দিষ্ট সময়ে দেখা যায়। এই জেলাতেই বিশ^ ব্যাংক-পিকেএসএফ-এর অর্থায়নে ইএসডিও-এর মাধ্যমে “দেশের উত্তরাঞ্চলে টিউলিপ ফুল চাষ সম্প্রসারণের উপযোগিতা নির্ণয়’ শীর্ষক ভ্যালু চেইন পাইলট প্রকল্পটি বাস্তবায়িত হয়।
গবেষণায় ব্যবহৃত পদ্ধতিসমূহ:
এই গবেষণাটি মিশ্র এপ্রোচ (গুণমান নির্দেশক পদ্ধতি ও সংখ্যামান নির্ভর পদ্ধতি) অনুসরণ করেছে। এই গবেষণার মুল উদ্দেশ্যগুলোকে সামনে রেখে গবেষণা সংশ্লিষ্ট অন্যান্য সকল পদ্ধতি ব্যবহার করে মাঠ পর্যায় থেকে তথ্য সংগ্রহ করেছে যা গবেষণা কার্যক্রমকে একটি নির্দিষ্ট পরিলেখায় সম্পন্ন করতে নিকনির্দেশনা দিয়েছে। এই গবেষণায় প্রকল্পের সকল সুবিধাভোগীর উপর ইন-ডেপথ-ইন্টারভিউ এবং কেস স্টাডিসহ জরিপ পরিচালনা করা হয়েছে। পঞ্চগড় জেলার অন্তর্গত তেঁতুলিয়া উপজেলায় বসবাসকারী টিউলিপ ফুল চাষকারী নারীদের ওপর এই গবেষণাটি চালানো হয়েছে। এই মূল্যায়ন গবেষণার জন্য সুবিধাভোগীর পরিবারের সদস্যদেরসহ সমস্ত উপকৃত ব্যক্তিকে গবেষণা জনসংখ্যা হিসেবে বিবেচনা করা হয়েছে। দুই ধরনের সাক্ষাৎকার পদ্ধতি ব্যবহার করা হয়েছে, যেমন সুবিধাভোগীদের সাথে মুখোমুখি সাক্ষাৎকারের মাধ্যমে উপকারভোগী জরিপ এবং ইন-ডেপথ-সাক্ষাৎকার। পাশাপাশি, উপকারভোগীদের কেস স্টাডি গ্রহন করা হয়েছে যা প্রকল্প এলাকায় তাদের বর্তমান পরিস্থিতি অন্বেষণ করতে ব্যবহৃত হয়েছে। গবেষণা এলাকায় উত্তরদাতাদের কাছ থেকে তথ্য সংগ্রহ করতে সাক্ষাৎকার অনুসূচি ব্যবহার করা হয়েছে। অধিকন্তু,ইন-ডেপথ-সাক্ষাৎকার এবং কেস স্টাডি নির্দেশিকাগুলো গবেষণা এলাকায় সুবিধাভোগীদের কাছ থেকে তথ্য সংগ্রহ করার জন্য উন্মুক্তভাবে ডিজাইন করা হয়েছিল। প্রধানত, শতাংশের সাথে গণসংখ্যা বন্টন, ক্রস ট্যাবুলেশন, এবং SPSS-এর একাধিক রেসপন্স ট্যাবুলেশন সূত্র সুনির্দিষ্ট রিপোর্ট লেখার জন্য ব্যবহার করা হয়েছে।(to be continued)
The research team of BRID contacted with the Swiss contact responsible persons (Md. Nasir Uddin Rana-Sector Coordinator; Rajib; and Kader Vai) to know details about the field assessment of the B-skillful Program in Rangpur and Nilphamari (Saidpur) after contract signing with ESDO. The purpose of the assessment is to explore a) worker’s level of skills; b) existing trades patterns of the workshops; c) duration, best time, and favorable days for conducting training activities within their workshop; and d) the overall conditions of the workshops along with the capacity of the targeted SMEs. The responsible persons of Swiss contact provide a datasheet of SMEs that is expected to be helpful in connecting targeted SMEs. After getting and reviewing the datasheet, the research team went to Rangpur to assess the field situation and conditions of the SMEs. After meeting with Swiss Contact at RDRS guest house, Rangpur, the research team reached out to targeted 03 SMEs (one is wooden furniture, and the rest of them are repairing workshops) at RK road; Badarganj road; and Alam Nagar, Rangpur respectively. After completing the assessment in Rangpur, the research team with Swiss contact marched to Saidpur. In Saidpur, the Research team with the Swiss Contact team conducted 03 interviews with light engineering SMEs in the BSCIC area.(to be continued)
Micro-enterprises (MEs) are currently one of the pillars of Bangladesh economy and its growth. The ME sector has developed and continues to grow, focusing on both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. At present new technologies and equipment are being used in both the sectors but the use of modern equipment in the agricultural sector is lagging behind. The SEP project has emphasized on increasing the use of environmentally friendly modern technology in the agricultural sector, especially in the rice processing sector, and improving the market system for the products produced. For this, the project has taken effective steps such as technical assistance, provision of capital and capacity building for the targeted beneficiary. Already some progress has made and gradually impacting the sectors.
The survey result shows that the secondary level passed 47.47% while the higher secondary level passed 27.27%. On the other hand, 7.7% and 3.3% completed graduate and postgraduate degrees, respectively. Due to a lack of social importance, people with higher education are not involved in the production of full grain rice.
Ownership is the way of legal entity of business man. 6% of husking mills owner are self-operated business and only 4% mills are operating by joint ownership approach. The business ownership reveals that husking mills is a ME, which managed by the single or few number of people.
Training received 59% at the time of the survey. Among them, business management training got the highest percentage (86.6%) whereas the lowest training was conducted on livestock rearing (1.5%).
In the study researcher found that 58 percent of the MEs are Muslim on the basis of gender male and 14 percent of the female respondents are Muslim. 18 percent male respondent are from Hindu religion and 3 % of the respondents are from female side. Moreover, 3 percent of the respondent from Christian community, 2 percent from Buddhist religion and 2 percent from other religious community as well.
In the study the researcher tried to know the category of the MEs and monthly income range of the respondents. It has been found that 82 % of the MEs are husking mills owner. 13 percent of the respondents are traders who are involved in trading of full grain rice marketing, market development and trading of the produced products from husking mills. On the basis of the range of income of the MEs it has been found that 30 percent of the respondents’ monthly income are in between 36000 to 45000 Taka whom are actually a husking mill owner. The second highest 25 percent of the MEs monthly income are 46000 or above. (to be continued)
Bangladesh is one of the densely populated countries of the world and most of the people are unaware of their drinking water quality. Groundwater is a major source for drinking water in Bangladesh. Depending on different topographical, geographical and hydro-geological conditions, groundwater may be contaminated through various geochemical reactions. Arsenic, iron and manganese are most common contaminants in the groundwater of Bangladesh. In addition, sanitation, drainage facility and sewerage water management systems are very weak, which causes microbial pollution in groundwater of shallow aquifer, the main drinking water sources in many areas of Bangladesh. The use of polluted water for drinking and other household purposes is one of the main causes of many waterborne diseases every year.
Kurigram district is located in the north-western part of Bangladesh. The Brahmaputra River (the Jamuna downstream) is situated on the east, causing river erosion due to the flood during the monsoon every year. Thus, many people lost their houses and took shelter in slums in the Kurigram Municipality. Their knowledge on WASH is poor and most of them face difficulties in obtaining safe drinking water. Hence Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) intervened with a 3-year project titled “Max Value for WASH in Urban Slums Project” in Kurigram Municipality with a view to increasing the WASH knowledge of people in slums and supplying safe drinking water to them. The project is funded by the Max Foundation in the Netherlands.
In Kurigram deep tube wells are not suitable due to identified critical hydro-geological situation; namely, gravel layers underground. People are dependent on STWs but arsenic, iron, manganese and microbial contaminations are most common in shallow aquifers in the area. ESDO requested AAN, therefore, to conduct this water quality survey. (to be continued)
Children and young people are the future of the world. Around the world, there are a large number of young people. Magic Bus works with poor children and young adults and hence focuses on helping them transition from a difficult childhood to a life filled with purpose. Magic Bus has been conducting a childhood to livelihood program with this topic in mind. To make the most of this immense demographic potential, we must combat poverty and unemployment, the two foes threatening to squander our demographic dividend. The struggle against poverty starts in the classroom. Allowing children to finish secondary school, imbuing them with life skills such as cooperation, problem-solving, and communication, and making them more robust to the effects of poverty, will start the process of eradicating poverty. Magic Bus accomplishes this with the support of its award-winning sports and activity-based curriculum. Magic Bus is increasing children’s self-efficacy and resilience, which means they will be able to postpone the age of marriage in their country. This also means that, with secondary education and hopes for a better future, most of these children will seek skill-based training to find work, furthering the cycle that will lift them out of poverty.
Magic Bus’s Livelihood program kicks in, assisting young people age 18 in developing the necessary skills to find work in the organized sector. The Childhood to Livelihood approach positively impacts the lives of 3,75,000 children and young adults in 22 Indian states. Since 2015, Magic Bus has expanded its working periphery in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar with the objective of a sustainable childhood to livelihood. In Bangladesh, Magic Bus is working on the program with its implementing partner Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), in the northern part of Bangladesh. ESDO is the local implementing partner that has been implementing this program in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts since its inception in Bangladesh. The current scenario is that ESDO is implementing this program in Atowary Upazila under the Panchagarh district. The program covers a vast number of students (children and adolescents) in 10 schools in the implementing area. However, this survey has tried to explore the level of awareness about education, nature of school systems and community for girls’ education, gender attitude and behaviour, and aspiration. A mixed approach has been used in this study, where the qualitative approach is dominant in nature. This survey has included 257 sample adolescents and children from 06 schools using the Child-Parent Registration Format (CPRF) of 1518 children in the project area. After collecting the field data, an excel sheet and SPSS software were used for data input and analysis. The analyzed data refer to the significant portion (24.9%) of the respondents belonging to Bolorampur High School who are studying in classes six and seven. It is also found that a considerable percentage of the students (89.9%) do not know their date of birth in the surveyed area. Survey also finds that the rate of school enrollment and attendance of the respondents are outstanding in number. At the same time, the majority of them go to school to increase their knowledge and develop a better future. It is seen that a significant portion come to school because they enjoy classes and they meet with their friends respectively in the surveyed area. (to be continued)
Power is the most vital element and everyone expect to be the most powerful man in this world. It empowers the men and women to move freely, to take decision, control over resources and become a self-reliant in family and social life. Women are the most important part of family because they play vital role to rear up and bring up of a human child. So, it should empower them properly for the wellbeing for family life. However, this study conducted to identify the real picture of women’s empowerment in family life in Bangladesh. It also tried to explore the role of background characteristics of women regarding women’s empowerment. Current study is narrative and qualitative manner and based on Bangladesh Demographic and Household survey data. But secondary data also helps to make this study meaningful and informative on the concerning issue. However, study found that women are enough self-esteem and not using the freedom of mobility still now in the family life of Bangladesh. They are treated as weaker segment of society as well as in family. Study also found that they have not enough right to take participation in all kinds of decision in family life. It seems that they are not enough intellectual and foresight power for taking a good decision. Study also explored that women have not sufficient power to take control over family resources which constraint the practice of women’s empowerment.(to be continued)
Kurigram district is situated in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh surrounded by Jamalpur, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat districts and India. Kurigram pourashava is in fact the district town. There are nine wards as in other pourashavas of Bangladesh. Except the central part of the Kurigram town, other parts are very much rural in nature. This baseline study was covering 650 households from within the pourashava boundary and they were selected on the basis of a number of criteria. Results have been described in detail in the findings section. Here a snapshot of all the findings have been summarized for the people who do not have enough time to spare.
Getting underground water is relatively easy in the northern part of Bangladesh. May be that is the reason behind low supply from the Pourashava authority. Only 6.9 percent of the surveyed households are receiving drinking water through piped supply. The rest 93 percent are getting it from shallow tube-well which is very common in the entire northern part of Bangladesh. Quality of water was not tested for the tube-wells. So safety of drinking water is still a concern. Almost every household have got the facilities for storing water. A very tiny portion (0.15%) mentioned that they are getting drinking water from pond which needs some extra care. (to be continued)
Body confidence is an incomparable resource for every human being. It is commonly said that, health is wealth. And to ensure better health and physical condition, having self-confidence is quintessential. But, amid different challenges and adversities, it is getting difficult for people to have confidence on oneself. This lack of self-confidence is having a severe impact on the lives of young girls and boys. As a result, children and adolescents face multidimensional complications while instability is rising from the families to the societal level.
With the financial support of Unilever Bangladesh and the technical assistance of Plan International Bangladesh, ESDO implemented the ‘Dove Self-Esteem Project’ in Bangladesh for the first time. The project started in September 2021 and ended in April 2022. Dove is a well-known personal care brand that is committed to developing the physical confidence and self-esteem of men, women, boys, and girls. The project aims to ensure that the new generation, especially girls, grow up having body confidence and make a real difference in the way how the concept of ‘beauty’ is perceived and accepted. The Dove Self Esteem Project wants girls and boys to be free from the pressure of the idea of external beauty and build body-confidence in themselves. Dove is conducting research on self-esteem and has already reached out to millions of adolescents with self-esteem activities worldwide.
To build a social movement to solve the challenges for the adolescents, this project is developing skills and capacity of the school teachers, students, parents, and peer groups. This project has been piloted in 10 secondary level Madrasahs and 43 schools of the marginalised areas of Jaldhaka Upazila in Nilphamari District of Bangladesh. 15,920 students (60% female) from the 6th to 9th class (11-14 years old) have been included in this project. In order to reduce the indifferent attitude of the students towards their bodies and boost up their self-confidence, 106 teachers (50% women) and 796 peer leaders were given two-day training, while 3,000 parents received five awareness sessions.
We are very grateful and thankful to the Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), Plan International Bangladesh, and Dove Self-Esteem Project for engaging consultants with such a timely initiative who have been instrumental in directing and projecting the project. (to be continued)
Sustainable Enterprise Project (SEP) project is jointly financed by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and World Bank. The objective of SEP is to increase the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices by targeted microenterprises. SEP has selected 30 lead districts as the project working area to demonstrate the project impact on different sub-sectors. The project prioritizes a selected number of polluting microenterprise business clusters and supports the expansion of innovative economic activities conducive to a more sustainable environment. However, Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) is implementing a subproject of SEP, namely, “Initiative for increasing the production and use of Eco-Friendly Construction Materials” in Chirir Bandar and Dinajpur Sadar Upazila under Dinajpur District and Thakurgaon Sadar, Ranisongkoil and Banliadangi under Thakurgaon District of Bangladesh. This 02 year’s June 2021 to May 2023 sub-project will support to achieve global goals of the main SEP project. The sub-project activities will be implemented in the business clusters of eco-friendly construction subsector to improve the overall business and environment of the microenterprises. The main purpose of this subproject is to ensure environment friendly materials in construction process. Furthermore, this subproject aimed at to introduce environment protective construction process to the micro-enterprises to reduce the environment pollution. The use of safety equipment during traditional and modern construction process is the major activities of the subproject. To explore the concurrent situation of the project areas and establishing a benchmark for the project, it was needed to conduct a baseline survey on the stated project. However, as a lead consultant of Bangladesh research Institute for Development (BRID) for the stated survey, an initiative was taken to understand the present business, economic and environment status of microenterprises, entrepreneur and their enterprises under eco-friendly construction sector in the sub-project working area as baseline. A total of one hundred micro entrepreneurs from different arenas were interviewed through formatted questionnaire. Along with five KIs and two FGDs was conducted to explore the concurrent situation of the surveyed areas.
Methodology
The study team developed an appropriate methodology (most preferably, a mixed-method) to meet the objectives of the assignment. The methodology included a statistically reliable and acceptable sampling method and estimation, an appropriate study method, and so on. Appropriate triangulation in the data collection method is anticipated in the methodology followed. The methodology and relevant instruments/tools were adjusted in consultation with ESDO and PKSF and finalized. However, the researchers used innovative ideas where needed in the scope of the assignment. The following methodology and research tools were applied but were not limited to during the research study: a) literature compilation and desk review (for secondary data collection); b) Household interviews/survey in the targeted stakeholders; c) Focus Group Discussions in targeted communities; d) Interviews with key stakeholders and e) In-depth interview. A total of 100 MEs were interviewed through the interview schedule. Five KIs were also interviewed, and 02 FGDs sessions were conducted in the study areas.(to be continued)
Sustainable Enterprise Project (SEP) project is jointly financed by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and World Bank. The objective of SEP is to increase the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices by targeted microenterprises. SEP has selected 30 lead districts as the project working area to demonstrate the project’s impact on different sub-sectors. The project prioritizes a selected number of polluting microenterprise business clusters and supports the expansion of innovative economic activities conducive to a more sustainable environment. Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) is implementing a subproject of SEP, namely, “Promoting Hygienic Restaurant and Street Food in Bangladesh in a Sustainable Way” in Rajshahi City Corporation, Poba, and Puthia Upazila under Rajshahi district and Bogura Sadar under Borura district of Bangladesh. This 02year’s June 2021 to May 2023 sub-project will support the achievement of the global goals of the main SEP project. The sub-project activities will be implemented in the business clusters of sustainable and safe street food and hygienic restaurant subsector to improve the overall business and environment of the microenterprises. The main purpose of this subproject is to ensure environment-friendly street food production by maintaining hygiene in food processing and establishing hygienic restaurants. Furthermore, this subproject aimed at introducing street food processing and production that are conducive to the environment as well as helpful to reduce environmental pollution. Along with introducing street food, promoting hygienic restaurants in a sustainable way to the micro-entrepreneurs is another purpose of the subproject. The use of hygienic and safety equipment during food processing and production in street food and local restaurants is the major target area of the subproject. However, it was needed to conduct a baseline survey on the stated project in the implementing areas to assess the concurrent situation and establish a benchmark for the project evaluation after completion. To serve the stated purpose, we conducted this survey on five Upazilas of Rajshahi and Bogura districts in alignment with the project objectives. Precisely this survey was conducted to understand the concurrent business, economic and environmental status of microenterprises, entrepreneur, and their enterprises under environment-friendly and hygienic street food production, processing, and marketing as well as promoting hygienic restaurant business in the sub-project implementing area. A total of 170 microenterprises were interviewed through will get different technical and financial support through the sub-project.
Methodology
The study team developed an appropriate methodology (most preferably, a mixed-method) to meet the objectives of the assignment. The methodology included a statistically reliable and acceptable sampling method and estimation, an appropriate study method, and so on. Appropriate triangulation in the data collection method is anticipated in the methodology followed. The methodology and relevant instruments/tools were adjusted in consultation with ESDO and PKSF and finalized. However, the researchers used innovative ideas where needed in the scope of the assignment. The following methodology and research tools were applied but were not limited to during the research study: a) literature compilation and desk review (for secondary data collection); b) Micro-enterprise survey in the targeted areas; c) Focus Group Discussions in targeted communities; d) Interviews with key stakeholders and e) In-depth interview. A total of 170 MEs were interviewed through the interview schedule. A total of five KIs were also interviewed, and two FGDs sessions were conducted in the study areas. (to be continued)
খাদ্য, বস্ত্র, আবাসন, চিকিৎসা ও শিক্ষা এ পাঁচটি মানুষের মৌলিক চাহিদার মধ্যে আবাসন একটি অন্যতম গুরুত্বপূর্ণ চাহিদা। আবাসস্থল বা বাড়ি হলো একটি বাসস্থান যেখানে মানুষ স্থায়ী বা অস্থায়ীভাবে বসবাস করে। বাংলো, মেস, হোটেল, মোটেল, ভাড়া বাড়ি, লজ, ডরমেটরি, হল, হোস্টেল, সরকারি কলোনী প্রভৃতি নামে মানুষের আবাসনের ব্যবস্থা রয়েছে। আলোচ্য গ্রন্থের মূল উপজীব্য বিষয় হলো আবাসন ঋণ তথা নিজ নামে গৃহ নির্মাণ করার জন্য ঋণ গ্রহণ।
বাড়ি একজন মানুষের সমগ্র জীবনের স্বপ্ন। একটি বাড়ি তৈরী করতে অনেক সময় ও অর্থের প্রয়োজন হয়। অনেকে জমানো অর্থ দিয়ে বাড়ির কাজ শুরু করেন কিন্তু টাকার অভাবে মাঝপথে কাজ থামিয়ে দিতে হয়। ফলে কাজটি সম্পন্ন করতে অর্থের প্রয়োজন পড়ে। যা পুরণ করতে পারে গৃহঋণ। গৃহ ঋণ সুদসহ মূলধন পরিশোধ না হওয়া পর্যন্ত মাসিক কিস্তি আকারে পরিশোধ করতে হয়।
বিশ^ব্যাংকের অর্থায়নে পল্লী কর্ম-সহায়ক ফাউন্ডেশন (পিকেএসএফ) ও জাতীয় গৃহায়ন কর্তৃপক্ষ (জাগৃক) নি¤œ আয়ের দরিদ্র জনগোষ্ঠীর আবাসন অবস্থার উন্নয়নের জন্য ২০ অক্টোবর, ২০১৬ সাল হতে নির্বাচিত পৌরসভা এবং সিটি কর্পোরেশনে “লো ইনকাম কমিউনিটি হাউজিং সাপোর্ট প্রজেক্ট” শীর্ষক প্রকল্পটি যৌথভাবে বাস্তবায়ন করছে। পিকেএসএফ এই প্রকল্পের “শেল্টার লেন্ডিং এন্ড সাপোর্ট” শীর্ষক একটি কম্পোনেন্টের আওতায় নির্বাচিত ১৩টি শহরে সাতটি সহযোগী সংস্থার মাধ্যমে গৃহ নির্মাণ ঋণ কার্যক্রম বাস্তবায়ন করছে। তার মধ্যে ইকো-সোশ্যাল ডেভলপমেন্ট অর্গানাইজেশন (ইএসডিও) সংস্থাটি তার রংপুর সিটি কর্পোরেশনের আওতার তিনটি শাখা যথা রংপুর সদর, ক্যান্টনমেন্ট ও মাহিগঞ্জ-এর মাধ্যমে রংপুর শহরে প্রকল্পটি বাস্তবায়ন করছে। এ প্রকল্প হতে রংপুর শহরে ২০১৭ সালের ৯ জুলাই তারিখে সদর ও ক্যান্টনমেন্ট শাখা হতে একই দিনে দুইজন সদস্যকে ঋণ প্রদান করে গৃহ ঋণের নতুন অধ্যায়ের শুভ-সূচনা করা হয়। পিকেএসএফ সাতটি সহযোগী সংস্থার মাধ্যমে ৩০ নভেম্বর, ২০২১ খ্রি. পর্যন্ত ৯৪৪৫ জন সদস্যকে নতুন গৃহ নির্মাণ, পুরাতন গৃহ সংস্কার ও সম্প্রসারণ বাবদ মোট প্রায় ১৭৯ কোটি টাকা ঋণ হিসাবে বিতরণ করেছে। এর মাঝে রংপুর সিটি কর্পোরেশনে ইএসডিও-এর তিনটি শাখার মাধ্যমে ৫৩৭ জন সদস্যের মাঝে উল্লিখিত তিন ধরণের নির্মাণ কাজের জন্য ১৭.৮৫ কোটি টাকা ঋণ বিতরণ করা হয়েছে। (to be continued)
SOPIRET is implementing a sub-project of the Sustainable Enterprise Project (SEP), namely ‘Promotion of Natural Ingredient Made Handicraft Entrepreneurship in the South-Eastern Region of Bangladesh’ in Noakhali and Lakshmipur district. Handicraft refers to the necessary products are produced by the skilled artisan, for instance, Nakshi Katha, baskets, tables, chairs, Sheetal Pati (mat feels cold during summer, made from murta tree), clay toys, nets of fisherman, painted pottery and image-making crafts, woven clothes, ornaments, carpet craft, work of a blacksmith, and so on. On the other hand, natural ingredients refer to the elements used for handicrafts products, such as bamboo, cane, date palm leaf, hogla (bush like small plant), jute, metal leaf, seagrass, cotton, terracotta, and other relevant handicrafts ingredients. However, this study tried to obtain a snapshot assessment of the current business, economic, environmental, and climatic conditions of the micro-entrepreneurs likely to participate in the project activities. The changes related to the project interventions and their progress will be evaluated after the project period.
Methodology
This baseline survey has utilized mixed approach. A total of five unions were covered by the survey, three unions such as Lakshmipur pourashava union under Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila, Raipur pourashava and keroa union under Raipur Upazila of Lakshmipur district are from Lakshmipur district, and two unions are from Noakhali district such as char motua and ewazbalia unions under Noakhali Sadar Upazila. The study included 200 Micro-Entrepreneurs that were interviewed with a questionnaire schedule. In this survey, 05 Key Informant Interviews were conducted through which important stakeholders were interviewed. Moreover, 02 Focus Group Discussions were conducted with interview guidelines where 10 MEs were present in every FGD session in the study area. The questionnaire for the sample survey, interview guidelines for KIIs, and FGD guidelines were used to collect the data. The sample was selected as per provided list of the MEs by the project implementing organization. (to be continued)
Sustainable Enterprise Project (SEP) project is jointly financed by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and World Bank. The objective of SEP is to increase the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices by targeted microenterprises. SEP has selected 30 lead districts as the project working area to demonstrate the project impact on different sub-sectors. The project prioritizes a selected number of polluting microenterprise business clusters and supports the expansion of innovative economic activities conducive to a more sustainable environment. However, CODEC is implementing a sub-project of SEP, namely, “Initiative for increasing the production and use of Eco-Friendly Construction Materials” in Rupsha and Batiaghata Upazila under Khulna district, Bagerhat sadar, Fakirhat under Bagerhat District, Galachipa under PAtuakhali District and Noakhali Sadar Upazila under Noakhali District of Bangladesh. This 02 year’s June 2021 to May 2023 sub-project will support to achieve global goals of the main SEP project. The sub-project activities will be implemented in the business clusters of eco-friendly construction subsector to improve the overall business and environment of the microenterprises. The main purpose of this subproject is to ensure environment friendly materials in construction process. Furthermore, this subproject aimed at to introduce environment protective construction process to the micro-enterprises to reduce the environment pollution. The use of safety equipment during traditional and modern construction process is the major activities of the subproject. It was needed to conduct a baseline study to explore the actual situation of environment and construction sector in the study area through consultant/firm. The baseline study was conducted to understand the present business, economic and environment status of microenterprises, entrepreneur and their enterprises under eco-friendly construction sector in the sub-project working area as baseline. A total of 150 microenterprises were surveyed with interviewed to explore their concurrent situation and real scenario of the environment and construction sector in the study areas.
Methodology
The study team developed an appropriate methodology (most preferably, a mixed-method) to meet the objectives of the assignment. The methodology included a statistically reliable and acceptable sampling method and estimation, an appropriate study method, and so on. Appropriate triangulation in the data collection method is anticipated in the methodology followed. The methodology and relevant instruments/tools were adjusted in consultation with CODEC and PKSF and finalized. However, the researchers used innovative ideas where needed in the scope of the assignment. The following methodology and research tools were applied but were not limited to during the research study: a) literature compilation and desk review (for secondary data collection); b) Household interviews/survey in the targeted stakeholders; c) Focus Group Discussions in targeted communities; d) Interviews with key stakeholders and e) In-depth interview. A total of 150 MEs were interviewed through the interview schedule. Five KIs were also interviewed, and 02 FGDs sessions were conducted in the study areas. (to be continued)
Bangladesh Research Institute for Development (BRID)
Collegepara (Gobindanagar), Thakurgaon-5100, Bangladesh
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E-mail: brid.com.bd@gmail.com
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