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RMP Implementation Responsibilities Handed over
to the Government of Bangladesh
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After 23 years of successful implementation of the Rural Maintenance Programme (RMP), CARE Bangladesh today (Thursday) handed over implementation responsibilities of the program to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives (LGRD&C) of the Government of Bangladesh.
Mr. Steve Wallace, Country Director of CARE Bangladesh, formally handed over a note to Mr. S.M. Jahrul Islam, Secretary of the Local Government Division, at the Project Steering Committee meeting held at the Secretariat.
Mr. Jacob Thoppil of Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Mr. Anthony Goodwin of European Commission and high officials from the Government of Bangladesh were present.
Speaking the function Mr. Steve Wallace said, CARE feels proud for successful implementation of the program since last 23 years. He recalled supports from the Government of Bangladesh and donor agencies in this regard. Mr. Steve hoped that the government will eradicate poverty through successful implementation of the program in future.
Taking over implementation responsibilities, LGD Secretary Mr. S.M. Jahrul Islam said the government is planning to implement the program in a greater scale. He expressed his satisfaction to CARE Bangladesh for successful implementation of the program.
Due to this handover, Ministry of LGRD&C will implement the program from 1 st July 2006. RMP was jointly funded by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), Canadian international Development Agency (CIDA) and European Commission (EC) till handing over the program.
Under the program, 42,000 destitute women maintained 84,000 km earthen road in 4,200 unions of 61 districts throughout the year. Regular maintenance of rural roads inflicted a positive impact on movement of goods and services, contributing to improvement of the rural economy.
Through this program 178,000 destitute women became self-employed and economically self-reliant, and living better life. Some of them are elected as a member of the Union Parishad and serving as a public representative. |
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Infrastructure development improves rural livelihoods,
especially lives of women
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Although infrastructure improvement of road, telecommunication and electricity positively impacted on the rural livelihoods and poverty in the country’s northern region but still many poor households have little access to the facilities. Investment in this sector should be governmentally coordinated to maximize benefits from the improved structures.
The importance was laid at a workshop “Urban-rural linkages in Bangladesh: Impact of infrastructure and the food value chain on the livelihoods and migration of landless households, women and girls in the northern region” organized by CARE Bangladesh. Dr. Shyamal Chowdhury and Maximo Torero, Researcher of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington DC, made the presentation at the workshop at BRAC Inn Centre on June 4, 2006 (Sunday).
Chairman of Urban Studies Department of Dhaka University and Urban Planner Prof. Nazrul Islam chair the session while Kelly Stevenson, Assistant Country Director of CARE Bangladesh inaugurate the workshop.
Research findings shows that the combination of public and private sector investments in infrastructure is creating employment opportunities, income-generating activities and better linkages between rural producers and urban markets. Better infrastructure is also increasing the likelihood of participation in contract farming, further improving integration, and increases labor mobility.
Access to multiple forms of infrastructure is more significant than the effects of access to individual forms of infrastructure combined. Per capita income and expenditure increase with access to more than one type of infrastructure. Telephone access increases monthly per capita income by Tk. 12, on average. But households with access to telephones and roads experience an increase of Tk.89. Adding electricity access increases monthly per capita income by Tk.185.
The study states that the total road network in the region was increased to 4,443 km in 2002/2003 from 3,122 km in 1990/91. By 2002/03, 91 percent of the road network was paved. Tele-density (the number of fixed lines per 1,000 people) had increased to 3 from 0.8 in 1990/91. Total number of rural telephone subscribers increased to 58,279 in 2002/2003 from 5, 603 in 1990/91.
The expansion of service was remarkable during the period. The length of electric cable rose from a small base of 768 km in 1991/92 to 3,517 km in 2003/04. The trend in subscriber numbers was comparable—208,930 in 1991/92 rising to over 1.2 million in 2003/04.
In the northwest region, the improvement of roads shows a positive but not significant correlation, telecommunications improvements show a strong positive impact. Electrification is also important, but not as much as telecommunications.
The results show that total household working hours remain unchanged, but more time was spent on non-farm activities (however the change was not statistically significant). Prices farmers received increased significantly.
In the region, market development institutions and rural household have a link with urban areas through contracts with agroprocessing firms or other supply chain participants. A new food value chain is emerging in the region through linking both rural and urban areas and farm and nonfarm sectors. This involves large agro processing firms, such as the Aftab Group and the Praan Group, and urban supermarkets, such as Agora and Nandon. Food processors, such as the Praan Group, have contracted growers in the northwestern region and built their own supply chain. The shift offers new, potentially very rewarding, income-earning opportunities for women and the landless.
The study shows that due to improvement of infrastructure, landless people are increasingly engage in non-agricultural activities which are more lucrative. It helps them to work away from home, increase overall number of working hours and create more scope to improve productivity. The study shows that landless households in the region experienced a 20% increase in time spent on non-agricultural activities in comparison to a 1% increase for land-owning households.
Improved infrastructure of the region is also changing the lives of rural women. Roads, electricity and public telephones facilitates non-agricultural employment for women, reduces their time spent in unpaid work, enabled them greater mobility, especially during the monsoon, or at night.
It also helps women to involve in non-traditional activities, increases their participation in income generating activities, including cow fattening and milking, goat farming, raising poultry, aquaculture, food processing, cane and bamboo working, garment making, fishnet making, coir production and handicrafts. Women, particularly hardcore poor or landless women, are increasingly participating in fishing, rickshaw/van pulling, blacksmithing, earthen work, and agricultural field labor. Taking training and micro credit support, they now operate small business such as selling eggs, dairy products, vegetables and handicrafts.
To offer sustainable subsidies, realize economies of scale, and promote production, consumption and integration the study suggested for three strategies -- identifying consumer demand and ability to pay; accepting roles for both a viable market and public sector intervention, and appreciating the need to develop sector-specific business strategies, enabling realistic estimation of costs, revenues and risk. |
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Date: 17 May, 2006 |
CARE develops more female drivers and auto mechanics |
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CARE Bangladesh has trained up four more female drivers and two auto mechanics, rising their number to 14 in one year, in an effort to bring gender equity in its Transport Services Department (TSD).
The graduation ceremony of the second batch apprentices and reception ceremony for 10 new apprentices in third batch were held at the CARE TSD office at Kawran Bazar in the city on May 16 (Tuesday).
Hasan M. Mazumder, Deputy Country Director of CARE Bangladesh, handed over certificates to the new graduates and welcomed the new apprentices. Md. Manzurul Haque, General Manager of TSD, among others, was present.
At the function, Hasan M Mazumder said women represent half of the country’s total population. Without their economic emancipation, country’s overall development is not possible. If they are economically developed, they will be empowered socially.
Manzurul Islam said TSD is training female drivers and auto mechanics in a way so that they can work outside the organization efficiently. |
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CARE and Bata shoe Company created new earning
avenue for rural poor women |
Bata Shoe Company in collaboration with CARE Bangladesh has expanded its program of "self-help women’s groups" to 100 unions incorporating 1,000 women in the country's rural areas.
To this effect, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two organisations at a simple ceremony at Bata Tongi office on May 14, 2006 (Sunday).
JD Hearns, Bata Bangladesh Managing Director, and Hasan M Mazumdar, Deputy Country Director of CARE Bangladesh, signed the agreement on behalf of respective sides.
Bata and CARE have been working together to help increase the income-generating capacity of rural women as well as creating new job opportunities, through the sale of Bata products door to door in the country's rural areas.
The expanded programme aims at creating income and employment opportunities for rural impoverished women under Bata's social community support initiative, which will be expanded gradually.Bata will provide marketing training, while CARE Bangladesh will provide management oversight, organizational support to facilitate business training to participating SHOW group. |
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Date: 26 April, 2006 |
Primary Education for Indigenous Children should be in their mother language
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Speakers at national seminar today (Wednesday) stressed on start of primary education for indigenous children in their mother tongue to prevent their high dropout rate at early primary level and meet the target to ensure basic education for all by the year 2015.
Dropout rate among indigenous student at early primary level is more than 33% as they failed to understand and write Bangla and fear to attend classes, mentioned at the concluding session of a two-day seminar on “the Indigenous Child and the State of Primary Education: Findings from the ICEF Community Based Research”.
CARE Bangladesh, Indigenous Children's Education Forum (ICEF), Commonwealth Education Fund (CEF) and USAID jointly organized the seminar in the city's BRAC Inn where representatives from 73 NGO working on indigenous children's education rights took part, shared experiences and put forward recommendations to address the problem.
There are more than 5 lakh indigenous children in 45 ethnic communities in Bangladesh , who have been largely denied the opportunities to participate in the regular national education system says speakers in the seminar.
The speakers observed educational issues of access, quality, and inclusion for minorities often manifest themselves in the lack of cultural relevancy of the national curriculum, the need to respect language diversity, and the vulnerability of trained and qualified teachers from among ethnic communities as well as rigidity in stipend providing criteria and geographical location.
In the concluding session ICEF's report titled “Many Languages, Once Voice” was launched by two indigenous college teachers– Anana Chien Marandi and SC Albert Soren., Reza Mahmud Al Huda, Assistant Coordinator of CARE's Education Program unveiled the report for general discussion.
The report, based on research, showed that 95 per cent parents from indigenous communities prefer their children's education in Bangla medium so that they can cope with the outside situation and lead a better life. Besides, 65 per cent parents opined education for their children in their own languages side by side Bangla.
But speakers at the function suggested that indigenous children should teach in first phase of primary education in their own language and gradually they should be turned into Bangla medium. This will help to reduce dropout rate among the indigenous children.
ICEF as an open coalition of NGOs working with the indigenous communities of Bangladesh sees itself as a partner to government in seeking an accurate solution to this dilemma. It has been formed with the objective of undertaking collective action to promote access, inclusiveness and quality in basic education for indigenous children.
Representatives from donor agencies including UNDP, UNICEF and Save the Children UK, among others, attended the seminar. |
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Date: 8 March, 2006 |
CARE Bangladesh's Program on Celebrating the International Women's Day |
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CARE Bangladesh has celebrated the International Women's Day across the country today (Wednesday) with a pledge to establish women's dignity in the society, and recognize their achievements and contributions.
The humanitarian organization with 47 other NGOs formed a human chain in the city's Manik Mia Avenue at 9:00 am today. Several hundred participants took part at the hour-long human chain program, upholding placards and banners on women rights issues. They also chanted slogans on elimination of all kind of discrimination against women and establishing their equal rights from home to state. Male participants wore white ribbon expressing their solidarity with the theme of women's day.
At district levels, CARE brought out colorful rallies jointly with partner NGOs.
Besides, the CARE will arrange a video program on 13 March at its headquarters in the city's Kawran Bazar, highlighting its efforts to promote women in nontraditional jobs like driving, mechanic and saleswomen.
Today, women represent two-thirds of the world's 876 million illiterate adults. Although women make up half the world's population and produce half the world's food, they own just 1 percent of its farmland. However, women are still struggling every while for their equal rights.
CARE has been working in Bangladesh over last half a century on infrastructure and human development. Presently CARE is working with 12 million project participants and 80% of them are women. |
CARE International believes that empowering women can be a crucial first step toward lasting change in the world's poorest countries. If women are given the opportunity, they have the power to change their world. |
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Date: 7 March, 2006 |
CARE Bangladesh's Program on Celebrating the International Women's Day |
CARE Bangladesh will celebrate the International Women's Day across the country on 8 th March with a focus on mobilizing concerted movement for establishing women's dignity in the society, and recognize their achievements and contributions.
CARE will mark the day with an elaborate program on creating awareness on women rights and empowerment. The programs include formation of human chain, bringing out rallies, assembling at shaheed minar and distributing posters, leaflets and white ribbon.
Today, women represent two-thirds of the world's 876 million illiterate adults, and although women make up half the world's population and produce half the world's food, they own just 1 percent of its farmland. However, women are still struggling every while for their equal rights.
CARE has been selected as the convenor of the National Celebration Committee, a platform of 48 NGOs working on women issues. Jointly with ACID Survivors Foundation, it will organize a huge male gathering at Jatiya Shaheed Minar at 4:00 pm on 7 th March (Tuesday).
On 8 th March, CARE will participate in a human chain of 50 organizations in the city's Manik Mia Avenue at 9:00 am. At district levels, it will bring out colorful rallies jointly with partner NGOs.
Besides, the CARE will arrange a video program on 13 th March at its headquarters in the city's Kawran Bazar, highlighting its efforts to promote women in nontraditional jobs like driving, mechanic and saleswomen.
CARE has been working in Bangladesh over last half a century on infrastructure and human development. Presently CARE is working with 12 million project participants and 80% of them are women.
CARE International believes that empowering women can be a crucial first step toward lasting change in the world's poorest countries. If women are given the opportunity, they have the power to change their world. |
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Institutionalizing RMP:
A pilot project launched to transfer CARE Bangladesh responsibilities to LGD |
An institutionalization pilot program was formally inaugurated Monday in Gazipur district to transfer implementation and management responsibilities of CARE Bangladesh's 22-year-old Rural Maintenance Programme (RMP) to the Local Government Institutions by June next year (2006),
M Fazle Rabbi, Deputy Commissioner (DC) opened the program as chief guest at DC office conference room. The event was attended, among others by Md Abdul Latif, Additional DC (general), Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, Addition District Magistrate, Md Ataur Rahman, ADC (Revenue), Md. Salim Ullah, DD-LG, Irena Wosk, Coordinator- RMP, CARE Bangladesh ,SM Maqsood Kabir, Project Coordinator (Operation) - RMP, CARE Bangladesh, UNOs and RMP project cell officials.
CARE Bangladesh's RMP project is the largest poverty alleviation program, working in 4,200 unions in 61 districts since 1982. It has been contributing to the betterment of the life of the most vulnerable rural destitute women by means of providing them with paid-for work for a four-year term. At the same time the program imparted training not only on rural road maintenance but also on human rights, hygiene, nutrition and business management skills. Income diversification component of the program provided women with a “nest egg”, accumulated over time from small portion of their wages withheld and saved in a bank account, that enables them to start or expend various income generating activities. All these parts of the program improved women self-reliance, created self-employment and helped these poor women to develop sustainable livelihoods.
Funded by the Government of Bangladesh, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and European Union (EU), the RMP training and income diversification components will be entirely handed over to the local government by June 30, 2006 through building the required capacities of local government officials to run the program efficiently.
The Gazipur pilot project is instrumental to the success of this transfer of responsibility. Its role is to streamline the process and to develop a model to successful shift of the program from CARE to LGD. It is expected that lessons from Gazipur Pilot Program will be used in imparting training in other 60 districts where RMP program has been implemented for more than two decades and thus ensure its continuing success.
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Move to bring gender equality in Care's transport dept
Unb, Dhaka |
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Physical assault on CARE's female employee
Accused Criminal still free despite Court order |
Mr. Ahsanul Tayeeb Zakir, Administrator of Sonatala Municipality and the President of the local BNP still moving free, attending public events accompanying by the OC of the Sonatala Thana,, Bogra, by violating the Court Order. Two newspapers “ the Daily Prothom Alo” and “Daily Korotoa” published reports on13 th September on accused Zakir's participation in an anti-drug rally along with the OC of the Sonatola Police Station at Sonatola ( Photocopy enclosed).
On Sept 7, 2005 the Tangil Court ordered ( Photocopy of the Court order enclosed) to publish Mr. Zakir's picture in two national dailies as Mr. Zakir has been reported as “absconding” since issuing of arrest warrant. The Court ordered for issuing warrant of arrest on May 3, 2005, for the first time in connection with a physical assault case filed by Ms. Rokeya Begum, CARE staff.
In this connection CARE Country Director Mr. Steve Wallace along with the Deputy Country Director Hasan Mazumdar met the IG of Police on 29th August where he gave assurance to arrest Zakir as soon as possible.
On 10 th February, 2002, Rokeay Begum, a female staff of CARE Bangladesh was beaten up brutally and humiliated in front of many others by Mr. Zakir while she was on official duty to monitor activity of the Rural Maintenance Program (RMP) of CARE at Sonatala Sadar Union of Sonatala Upazilla in Bogra. Mr. Zakir assaulted Rokeya simply because her motorcycle was parked on the driveway where Mr. Zakir's car was about to be parked.
As a consequence of the assault, Rokeya Begum was seriously injured and admitted to hospital. After being released from the hospital, Rokeya lodged a General Diary (GD) with the local police station and filed a criminal case against Mr. Zakir under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000. Despite being in receipt of the GD, under influence, the local police station initially refused to register the case. The case was then transferred to Detective Branch who, under influence again, submitted a biased report in favor of Zakir.
Rokeya then submitted a "Naraji Petition" (objection) to the Court. The case was then pending for hearing for a long time which demoralized Rokeya to believe that she will not get fair justice from the local Bogra Court. She then filed a petition with the High Court Division in 2003 with an appeal to transfer the case to Tangail for fair judgment. The High Court accepted Rokeya's appeal and, in August 2004, ordered to transfer the case from Bogra to Tangial Court. The case was then transferred to Tagail on January 25, 2005.
The Tangail Court, on 3 May, 2005, ordered for issuing warrant of arrest against Mr. Ahsanul Tayeeb Zakir, Administrator of Sonatala Municipality and the President of the local BNP, in connection with a physical assault case filed by Ms. Rokeya Begum. After three and a half years, this verdict will now allow Rokeya to start the case against Zakir.
CARE Bangladesh has suspended all its developmental work in the Sonatola Upazilla in Bogra district for indefinite period of time as a consequence of the above incident. Also CARE has informed the incident to the government officials, donors and journalists. CARE Bangladesh is assisting Rokeya in perusing this case.
For more information please contact Arifa S. Sharmin, External Relations CARE Bangladesh, phone: 9111948 |
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CARE organized Farmers Workshop
Institutional loan and better linkages can help farmers to get better price
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Framers from the greater North Bengal and Cox’s Bazar urged for institutional loan, access to market information system and better linkages with big buyers in a workshop today at BIAM Conference room organized by CARE Bangladesh. The session was chaired by Mr. Shyek Seraj, prominent media personality. Mr. Seraj gave emphasis on working for creating access of the small farmers in market.Small and marginal farmers of eight districts presented |
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their success and obstacles that they faced in farming sector collectively in the workshop. These farmers are organized by themselves and created self managed Community Business Incubators (CBI) to take collective actions for their own economic empowerment with out any external financial assistance., Kurigram Farmer’s representatives from Rangpur, Dinajpur, Joypurhat, Nilfamari Thakugaoand Cox’s Bazar districts presented their achievements and obstacles in the workshop. Mr. Neils Den Tex from CARE Bangladesh also spoke at occasion on how CARE facilitates the evolution of CBI from Farmers Filed School. Mr. Hasan Mazumdar, Deputy Country Director also spoke in the occasion. In his concluding remarks he urged the private sector to join hand with these farmers for getting better products and thus helping farmers to get better price.
CBI constitutes over 60% poor farmers among them 16% are landless .Activities such as poultry, cattle growing, milk production, fish rearing getting popularity among the farmers along with vegetable productions. In the last fiscal year CBI farmers from Rangpur districts earns Tk. 26,6555 which could be double if they get require financial assistance, establish contact with big buyers collectively and
get available quality input such as fertilizer, seeds on time.
In the second sessions representatives from the Private and banking sectors express their willingness to provide support to the farmers organizations. The Second session was chaired M. Sirajul Isal, Director, Department of Agriculture Marketing. |
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| Call to G8 Members. Don't Break Your Promises |
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On the eve of the UN+5 millennium summit, CARE Bangladesh along with the People's Forum on MDGs (PFM), a central coordinating body, has organized a people's rally,discussion session and people's assembly at the Central Shahid Minar.The rally was aimed to raise people's voice against poverty and a |
wake up call to the Govt.to keep their promises made earlier at the UN Summit in 2000.
In collaboration with partners, CARE's Filed Offices also observes the day by wearing white band organizing public events such as discussion session, procession etc all over the country.
CARE is a part of global movement on Global Call to Action Against Poverty |
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CARE & GBK released Northwest Indigenous Livelihoods Study 2004 |
The indigenous people living in the northwest part of Bangladesh have limited access to education, health care, and basic facilities provided by the Union Parisad. Among 400 households 7% women were raped in the previous year, 61% household do not have any cultivable land and only 7% households received professional medical services from private doctors and government health care centers.
These findings were disclosed today in a seminar held at YWCA auditorium organized by CARE and Gram Bikash Kendra. Ms. Andrea Rodricks, the Assistant Country Director of CARE Bangladesh inaugurated the seminar. In her inaugural speech, she gave importance to adopt targeted interventions to address diverse and complex livelihoods problems of the indigenous people. Mr. Moazzem Hossain, Executive Director of the Gram Bikash Kendra said indigenous people living in the Northwest part of the country are neglected and their human rights are violated. They do not have any access or very limited access to the available government facilities and resources.
Dr. Mehrul Islam, Program coordinator of Livelihoods Monitoring Unit of CARE Bangladesh and researcher Mr. A.K.m. Zakaria, presented the study.
According to research findings, 31% indigenous people do not have house and 61% do not have any cultivable lands. On average, indigenous households have eight months of food security per year.
About 86% of 6-10 year old children are enrolled in primary school but only 64% of 11-15 year olds completed primary school. Indigenous students face discrimination from non-indigenous students. Among forty selected villages, six villages do not have any schools. Using Bengali language as a means of teaching is a barrier for indigenous children to access to the higher education since they speak native dialects in the home.
Speakers in the seminar gave emphasize on identifying the root causes of the poverty and discrimination and take positive measures to ensure secured livelihoods of the indigenous people. The survey was conducted among 400 indigenous households under Panchogar, Thakurgao, Dinajpur and Joypurhat districts.
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Care and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty |
CARE International is proud to be a member of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (G-CAP) which is an international alliance of local and global organizations dedicated to making poverty history. The main level of coordination, advocacy work and mobilization is national platforms which work as loose coalitions where members are able to participate in joint activities and to develop activities of their own.
The key argument of G-CAP is that world poverty is sustained not by chance or nature, but by a combination of factors: injustice in global trade; the huge burden of debt; and insufficient and ineffective aid.
In relation to trade, G-CAP advocates for:
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Rules that ensure that governments, particularly in poor countries, can choose the best solutions to end poverty and protect the environment; and
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An end to export subsidies that damage the livelihoods of poor rural communities around the world;
In relation to debt, G-CAP's central message is that:
In relation to aid, G-CAP advocates that:
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Donors must set a binding timetable for spending 0.7% of national income on aid; and
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Aid must be made more effective for poor people by focusing on their needs and it should be untied, unconditional and predictable.
Individual members of the G-CAP have also brought to it messages relating to HIV and AIDS, water, education, food, orphans and corruption. CARE USA and CARE International Germany have supported their national G-CAP campaigns with messages on education relating to the Global Campaign for Education. CARE International UK is also actively promoting G-CAP and has incorporated messages about HIV and AIDS into the campaign.
The symbol of G-CAP is a white band, which is already being worn around the wrists of hundreds of thousands of people as a symbol of solidarity against poverty. G-CAP is organizing a series of White Band Days scheduled to coincide with major world events. The first global White Band Day will take place on the 1 st of July 2005, just before the G-8 meeting. Events are being organized all over the world: G-CAP is even planning to tie a white band around the Eiffel Tower in Paris; present a white wrist band to the Dutch Prime Minister; and cycle across the UK to Scotland to raise miles and miles of awareness! |
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Physical assault on CARE's female employee
Rokeya: waiting for justice since 2002 |
The Tangail Court , on 3 May, 2005, ordered for issuing warrant of arrest against Mr. Ahsanul Tayeeb Zakir, Administrator of Sonatala Municipality and the President of the local BNP, in connection with a physical assault case filed by Ms. Rokeya Begum. After three and a half years, this verdict will now allow Rokeya to start the case against Zakir.
On 10 th February, 2002, Rokeay Begum, a female staff, of CARE Bangladesh was beaten up brutally and humiliated in front of many others by Mr. Zakir while she was on official duty to monitor activity of the Rural Maintenance Program (RMP) of CARE at Sonatala Sadar Union of Sonatala Upazilla in Bogra. Mr. Zakir assaulted Rokeya simply because her motorcycle was parked on the driveway where Mr. Zakir's car was about to be parked.
As a consequence of the assault, Rokeya Begum was seriously injured and admitted to hospital. After being released from the hospital, Rokeya lodged a General Diary (GD) with the local police station and filed a criminal case against Mr. Zakir under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000. Despite being in receipt of the GD, under influence, the local police station initially refused to register the case. The case was then transferred to Detective Branch who, under influence again, submitted a biased report in favor of Zakir.
Rokeya then submitted a "Naraji Petition" (objection) to the Court. The case was then pending for hearing for a long time which demoralized Rokeya to believe that she will not get fair justice from the local Bogra Court . She then filed a petition with the High Court Division in 2003 with an appeal to transfer the case to Tangail for fair judgment. The High Court accepted Rokeya's appeal and, in August 2004, ordered to transfer the case from Bogra to Tangial Court . The case was then transferred to Tagail on January 25, 2005.
As a consequence of the above incident, CARE Bangladesh has suspended all its developmental work in the Sonatola Upazilla in Bogra district for indefinite period of time. Also CARE has informed the incident to the government officials, donors and journalists. Advocate Ehsanul Haque Shomaji, Ahsanul Karim and Barrister Faheemul Huq on behalf of Rokeya Begum, is appearing on behalf of Rokeya Begum along with the public prosecutor. CARE Bangladesh is assisting Rokeya in perusing this case. |
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Inauguration of Collaboration between CWFD and ARBAN “Synergy in Action” |
USAID-funded health care NGO, Concerned Women for Development (CWFD) today hosted a ceremony attended by senior representatives from U.S. Embassy Dhaka and the CARE Income Project. The ceremony was held to celebrate a new cooperative agreement between CWFD and a local microfinance NGO, ARBAN (the Association for the Realization of Basic Needs). Under the agreement, ARBAN microfinance members and their families are now eligible to receive subsidized healthcare at CWFD clinics. Already, over 50 ARBAN families have received CWFD health benefit cards. Soon thousands more will do so.
CWFD is an all-volunteer organization run by Bangladeshi women for Bangladeshi women. Since its inception in 1976, CWFD has sought to reach an impressively large number of people: 1.34 million live in its catchment area. CWFD operates 17 static and 565 satellite clinics in Dhaka and eight other municipalities. Its catchment area population is 1.4 million; CWFD clinics serve about 45 thousand customers per month. USAID's NGO Service Delivery Program (NSDP) provides CWFD with financial and technical assistance.
ARBAN has been working in partnership with the CARE-Income project since 1984. In Dhaka City Corporation ARBAN's microcredit operation has 32 branches. Approximately 40,000 of the 50,000 families which benefit from ARBAN's assistance live in Dhaka .
The Deputy Director of USAID, Beth Paige was the guest of honor. In her speech she noted USAID's continued cooperation with the Government of Bangladesh and others to improve health care for millions of Bangladeshi families. Other speakers included Mr. Zaki Ahmed, from the CARE Income project which is funded by the UK 's Department for International Development (DFiD), Mrs. Niloufer Manzur, the President of CWFD, Mr. Kamaluddin Ahmed, President of ARBAN, and Ms. Tamara Smith, the Deputy Chief of Party of NSDP. Ms. Smith's speech noted the exceptional tri-level cooperation between USAID and DFiD, between CARE and NSDP and between CWFD and ARBAN.
Under the terms of the agreement, ARBAN beneficiary families purchase CWFD health cards at a reduced rate – Tk. 75 instead of the usual Tk. 100. Each card is valid for one family for one year. Family members may visit any of the 10 CWFD clinics or any of the satellite clinics as many times as they need to, but for each visit they must pay Tk.5 per person and any co-payments necessary for laboratory services and medicines.
Also attending were Mr. Charles Llewellyn, Team Leader of USAID's Population Health and Nutrition (PHN) team, and Sheri-Nouane Johnson, Moselhuddin Ahmed, Belayet Hossain, all of USAID-Dhaka PHN. |
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Indigenous Children's Education Forum Formed |
A coalition of more then fifty organizations working with the indigenous people formed Indigenous Children's Education Forum (ICEF) through a workshop held yesterday at LGED Auditorium. Backed by CARE Bangladesh, the Forum will work as an autonomous body to support efforts to implement the Ethnic Minority Frame work of the Primary Education Development Program (PEDP-2) by advocating in favor of improves educational opportunities for minority children.
In consultation with all members, a nine members working committee has been formed with the representatives of different geographical locations from all over the country. The indigenous Children in Bangladesh are largely denied the opportunity to participate fully in regular national education system due to language and cultural diversity. Educational issues of access, quality and inclusion for minorities – manifested in the lack of cultural relevancy of the national curriculum, the need to acknowledge and respect language diversity, and the unavailability of trained and qualified teachers from among ethnic communities – have been raised for years with little response at the highest authority level.
It is encouraging to note that the Bangladesh Government has incorporated an Ethnic Minority Framework in its second Primary Education Development Program (PEDP-2) in recognition of the unmet educational needs of the ethnic minority population. Thus opening the opportunity for the ethnic population to participate in the benefits of the education system. The framework addresses the issue of inclusiveness in education, in which the culture, language and community values of the ethnic populations are valued and promoted. The ICEF will work to support efforts to implement the Ethnic Minority Framework of the PEDP-2 by advocating in favor of improved educational opportunities for minority children. This support is manifested as an organized, collective effort of NGOs and ethnic communities to promote access, inclusiveness and quality in basic education for minorities. |
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Reflecting on CARE's experiences in adaptation to climate change
Awareness and adaptation of alternative livelihoods may reduce vulnerability to climate change |
Awareness of the predicted impacts of climate change and implementation of strategies for adaptation may reduce the impact of climate change on people's livelihoods, said speakers in a workshop organized by the CIDA-supported Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change (RVCC) Project of CARE Bangladesh today. Waterlogging, increasing salinity, and flooding are threatening the livelihoods of people in the southwest region of Bangladesh , and these hazards are expected to become more serious with the impacts of climate change. The lack of availability of drinking water and the increasing trend of salinity are of particular concern, speakers added.
For three years, the RVCC project has worked in partnership with local communities and NGOs in the southwestern part of the country to increase the capacity of communities to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. The project has endeavored to raise awareness of climate change issues and possible coping mechanisms, using local cultural events, radio and a school program on climate change. The school program in particular has proved beneficial to increase understanding of climate change in the future citizens of the country. At the household level, t he project promoted alternative agricultural methods and income generating activities that are appropriate for the current and predicted environmental conditions. As well, the project worked at the community level, where efforts have been focused on raising awareness of UP members of the climate-related vulnerability of their constituency, and on building capacity to plan for actions that can be undertaken at the community level to reduce this vulnerability. The targeted UPs have demonstrated their commitment, however it has been found that they are limited in their ability to take concrete actions by resource limitations, a lack of technical and/or political capacity, and competing priorities. The project has also attempted to create an enabling policy environment for coping with climate change by facilitating an advocacy campaign by the civil society Pani Committee and NGO partners on the issue of potable water and increasing salinity.
The program was inaugurated by Ms. Sylvia Islam, Senior Development Officer of the Canadian High Commission, and was addressed by Mr. Ahsan Uddin Ahmed, Technical Advisor, Mr. Jainal Abedin, Partnership Coordinator, and Angie Dazé, Acting Project Coordinator of the RVCC Project. The partner NGO “Rupantar” entertained participants with a “pot song” on climate change issues, which was used for awareness raising at the village level during the project period. |
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| Date: March 09, 2005 |
CARE's celebrates Int'l Women Day |
CARE Bangladesh celebrates International women's day jointly with the National Committee for International Women's Day Celebration, a network of more then 50 organizations and ACID Survival Foundation. CARE also organized weeklong different programs to celebrate the day all over the country through its Filed Offices, says a Press release.
CARE's President Peter Fell said in his message that empowering women and upholding their rights is essential to eradicating poverty. Over recent months, CARE launched a research inquiry into how CARE's programs impact women's empowerment and reduce gender inequity, one of the most critical underlying causes of poverty. Besides, a weeklong program has been undertaken both in national and organizational level to celebrate the day. The program includes Male Rally, Cultural program discussion session etc. CARE participated rally brought out from the Manik Miah Avenue at 9:00 am by the National Committee for International Women's Day and organized Male Really brought out from Shahid Minar. A cultural program was also organized at the Rabindra Sharabor to celebrate the day.
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| Date: December 19, 2004 |
CARE's Education Program Bring Hopes for the CHT |
"CARE's CHOLEN project open new window for our children's education, we want to continue it" says Wang Chang Marma, a representatives of mother group of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. . "We want to continue our education" says a eight years old boy Maoyen Thanchagha coming from a remote village to attend the meeting . These are some comments made by the parents and student of different primary schools of remote villages of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the national seminar on "CHT Children Opportunity for Basic Education" organized by CARE Bangladesh.
In the opening statement Mr. Steve Wallace, Country Director of CARE Bangladesh said that CARE's education program is vehicle to start up work in the education sector, which is totally different from other traditional program of CARE. This project works with the diverse ethnic group of the CHT area and brings local language in the school as a means of instruction while continue Bengali as principle language. It enables student to learn local culture through education with joy.
Mr. Moni Saewpan Dewan, Deputy Minister of the CHT and Chief Guest of the program gave importance of building social leadership to take the lead of the issue related education. He said "many interior part of the CHT is still untouched by the government while CARE's fill that gap by coming forward with innovative life oriented education program." He stressed the need for development of responsible leadership for the development of the CHT.
Special guest Ms. Beth Page from the USAID mentioned that the USAID beliefs that access to quality education is fundamental human rights. Hence they will continue their support for quality education.
With the financial support of the USAID and CARE and in collaboration with local NGOs, CHT Children's Opportunity for Learning Enhanced (CHOLEN) project started work in CHT for 2000 with the aim of enhancing the educational achievement of indigenous children, especially girls, in primary schools of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It works in 180 schools in total (121 government schools, 32 registered non-government schools, 27 community managed schools) till to date. By involving community and mother's group the project has achieved regular attending of classes by the children and dropout rate has decreased from 40% to 25%. Also Enrolment has also significantly increased, especially for communities that are located in very remote areas.
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| Date: November 30, 2004 |
“Have You Heard Me”?
CARE in observing World Aids Day through weeklong programs
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The global HIV/AIDS crisis is one of the greatest humanitarian challenges of our time. Though the total HIV prevalence rate is bellow 1% in our country but Bangladesh is not beyond this risk. According to the recently released report, from the epidemiological perspective, the HIV epidemic is evolving rapidly. Among the risk groups , injecting drug users are most at risk.
HIV/AIDS is inextricably linked to poverty and erodes the hard won livelihoods of the world's poorest communities. Now, HIV/AIDS is not only a health problem — it contributes to hunger, wipes out years of socio-economic progress and has disastrous financial effects on families. In this context, CARE Bangladesh is observing World AIDS Day 2004 through a weeklong programs both in national and local level with the slogan of “Have You Heard Me Today?
CARE Bangladesh will attend in national rally led by the Health Minister on December 1st, starting at 8:00 at National Sangshad Bhaban and moving towards the China Friendship Center. CARE will also open a stall to the adjacent ground and open 69 information booths managed by the project participants in different districts. CARE is also distributing over 200,000 Red Ribbons for the first time in the country; over 5000 stickers for all vehicles – particularly for the Health sector, District Commissioner office law and order, private owned and CARE's project vehicles; over 200,000 pamphlets and over 1000 banners in English and Bangla for all districts and sub districts.
CARE Bangladesh also organize special program on HIV/AIDS on all TV channels including Bangladesh Television on that day. Besides, in partnership with NTV 13 episodes serial on HIV/AIDS is being aired every Thursday at 6:50pm.
A special concert program will be organized at Rabidra Saroni on 2 nd December at 3pm in joint collaboration with Prothom Alo to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS. Under this partnership rally and discussion in 25 districts i.e. Mymensing, Narsindhi, Tangail, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogura, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rajshahi, Natore, Chapai Nawabgong, Sirajgong, Jessore, Faridpur, Magura, Rajbari, Satkhira, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet, Moulavi Bazar, Chittagong, Commilla, Cox's Bazar and Brahmanbaria through Prothom Alo ‘Bandhu Sabha' will be organized.
CARE in partnership with Centre for Communication and Development (CCD) will arrange cultural program on HIV/AIDS like Baul Asor, Drama, in Sylhet, Chittagong, Barisal and Khulna through November 30 to December 4.
CARE with its more than 100 partner NGOs and media is involving to observe the World AIDS Day throughout all 64 districts to express our commitment, solidarity and support to the tens and thousands of people affected and infected by HIV as well 1000s of committed workers and agencies fighting against this epidemic all over the world. |
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| Date: November 24, 2004 |
Motorola
and CARE Bangladesh Celebrate
Inauguration of Radio
Communications System
Radio Communications Helps Save Lives in Flood-Prone Areas
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Dhaka,
Bangladesh (Nov 24,
2004) — Motorola (NYSE:
MOT) announced that
it is donating life-saving
technology to CARE,
the international humanitarian
organisation. In Bangladesh,
Motorola will work with
CARE field staff and
communities to install
and use high-grade,
commercial quality radio
communication systems.
The program was inaugurated
by Dr. Abdul Moyeen
Khan, Minister Science
and Information and
Communication Technology.
The
Motorola gift is valued
at 12,170,000 Bangladeshi
Taka (US$200,000) and
includes portable radios,
base stations, repeaters,
accessories and other
equipment necessary
for the installation
of the radio communications
equipment in the selected
sites.
“When
annual monsoon rains
flood villages in Bangladesh,
poor communities have
traditionally depended
on word-of-mouth to
communicate their need
for life-saving assistance.
By the time their message
gets through, it is
often too late,” said
Steve Wallace, country
director, CARE Bangladesh.
“Motorola’s support
through the sponsorship
of radio equipment will
provide vital communication
links for the people
who need it most.”
Reducing
the effects of floods
in Bangladesh
Annual floods caused
by monsoon rains buffet
Bangladesh, a low-lying
delta nation of 130
million people and 200
rivers in South Asia.
Floods affect particularly
the poor in Bangladesh,
killing some 10,000
people annually, uprooting
trees, flattening bamboo
houses, causing mudslides
and damaging agricultural
production. Installing
new communications technology
helps CARE field staff,
communities and evacuation
boat crews gain quicker
access to flood information,
mobilise more quickly
to save lives and reduce
the effects of floods.
Until now, field staff
and remote communities
have relied primarily
on courier or postal
services, which are
inefficient and often
not able to function
during a natural disaster.
CARE works with over
1,000 Bangladeshi communities
in flood-proofing villages
and roadways, and strengthening
food and economic security
of poor households.
“Motorola’s
relationship with CARE
is intended to link
previously isolated
communities to the outside
world and help save
lives. This is an excellent
opportunity for us to
leverage our expertise
in radio communications
and make a significant
contribution to the
community,” said Phey
Teck Moh, vice president,
Motorola Asia Pacific.
The
radio communications
system is designed to
provide CARE Bangladesh
with radio coverage
over Kurigram — one
of the districts under
CARE’s SHOUHARDO (Strengthening
HOUseHold Ability to
Respond to Development
Opportunities) program
that commenced in October
2004. This radio equipment
sponsorship will provide
communications tools
for CARE field workers
in the Kurigram district
as well as positively
impact seven sub-districts,
480 villages, and almost
282,000 people living
in areas affected by
the annual floods.
Motorola
will be working with
Skyways Techno Services,
its local partner, to
provide engineering
services for the installation
of the radio system
across all seven radio
sites.
About
Motorola’s Commercial,
Government and Industrial
Solutions Sector
Motorola’s Commercial,
Government and Industrial
Solutions Sector (CGISS)
is a leading provider
of integrated radio
communications and information
solutions, with more
than 65 years of experience
in meeting the mission-critical
requirements of public
safety, government and
enterprise customers
worldwide. In 2003,
CGISS received the inaugural
Interpol Outstanding
Contribution Award for
its services to the
international law enforcement
community. The sector
offers an extensive
portfolio of solutions
to meet growing public
safety and security
needs, including: interoperable
two-way radio communications
solutions; command and
control solutions; identification
and tracking solutions;
information management
of criminal justice
and civil needs; and
physical security and
monitoring solutions.
About
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:
MOT) is a global leader
in wireless, broadband
and automotive communications
technologies that help
make life smarter, safer,
simpler, synchronized
and fun. Sales in 2003
were US$27.1 billion.
Motorola creates innovative
technological solutions
that benefit people
at home, at work and
on the move. The company
also is a progressive
corporate citizen dedicated
to operating ethically,
protecting the environment
and supporting the communities
in which it does business.
For more information:
www.motorola.com.
About
CARE
CARE is one of the world’s
leading humanitarian
organizations. Worldwide,
CARE's 13,000 staff
members work in 72 developing
countries, helping communities
improve their quality
of life through projects
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