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24 June 2009, Dhaka. A two-day symposium on educational progress in Thailand will be held in city on 27-28 June. A three-member team headed by Dr. Kasama Varavarn, Secretary General of the Thai Ministry of Education, will share its experience with officials, academics and   policy-makers in Bangladesh. Dr. Q.K. Ahmed, co-chair of the Education Policy Committee, will inaugurate the symposium on Saturday, 27 June at the Lake Shore Hotel in Gulshan. 

BRAC University Institute of Educational Development, jointly with Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and Campaign for Popular Education, (CAMPE) will host the event. Members of the Education Policy Committee, Parliamentary Standing Committee members for the two education ministries, education officials, academics and development partner representatives have been invited. This will be the first event of the "Learning from Neighbours" symposia series planned by BRAC University and the partner institutions to look at experiences of Asian countries.

Thailand and other Asian countries have made spectacular progress in education and economic development in recent decades.  The newly elected government of Bangladesh has given high priority to educational development in its longer term Vision 2021 and its election  pledges. An Education Policy Committee has been appointed to formulate education policy priorities.  The symposia series, starting with Thailand, has been planned as a contribution to the national initiative.

tea-estate-award-2008.jpg

03 June 2009, Dhaka. BRAC’s Kaiyachreea Dalu Tea Estate, Bhujpur, Fatikchari, Chittagong won the First Prize for the Prime Minister’s National Award for Afforestation-2008 for the Agar (Aquilaria) Plantation Project. Mr. Saieed Bakth Mozumder, Director of BRAC Tea Estates Division, received the award from Honorable Prime Minister on 31st May 2009, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, Dhaka.

27 May 2009, Dhaka. The recent cyclone Aila caused massive destruction and devastation in the southern and south-western part of Bangladesh. BRAC, as an immediate response to this calamity has approved Taka 1 (one) crore from its own fund for primary relief activities. BRAC has already started to distribute pure drinking water, water purifying tablets, rice flakes and molasses in the affected region. For coordination and the smooth operation of the relief activities one of the Directors from BRAC Head Office is already working in the cyclone affected areas as well as all BRAC staffs of the affected Upazillas are engaged in these relief activities. Necessary steps to mobilise more funds for the victims are being taken by BRAC. 

destroyed house by cyclone aila destroyed house by cyclone aila
flooded rice fields  flooded rice fields 
flooded home and trees  families gathered for shelter in relief center after losing home 
all drinking water supply system been flooded with salt water  ponds, fields all gone under water 
flood affected people gathered for the relief  houses are been torn apart by the cyclone aila 
even big trees been knock down by cyclone aila  flooded area 
low area flooded with salt water  flooded home and trees 
flooded home and trees  flooded home and fields 
flooded home and fields

27 May 2009, Dhaka. The recent cyclone Aila caused massive destruction and devastation in the southern and south-western part of Bangladesh. BRAC, as an immediate response to this calamity has approved Taka 1 (one) crore from its own fund for primary relief activities. BRAC has already started to distribute pure drinking water, water purifying tablets, rice flakes and molasses in the affected region. For coordination and the smooth operation of the relief activities one of the Directors from BRAC Head Office is already working in the cyclone affected areas as well as all BRAC staffs of the affected Upazillas are engaged in these relief activities. Necessary steps to mobilise more funds for the victims are being taken by BRAC. 

destroyed house by cyclone aila destroyed house by cyclone aila
flooded rice fields  flooded rice fields 
flooded home and trees  families gathered for shelter in relief center after losing home 
all drinking water supply system been flooded with salt water  ponds, fields all gone under water 
flood affected people gathered for the relief  houses are been torn apart by the cyclone aila 
even big trees been knock down by cyclone aila  flooded area 
low area flooded with salt water  flooded home and trees 
flooded home and trees  flooded home and fields 
flooded home and fields

 

24 May 2009, Dhaka. BRAC University and the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) co-sponsored a seminar on the H1N1 virus (popularly known as the swine flu) on May 21st. Scholars and health professionals gathered at Swine Flu: Global and Local Perspective to emphasise the importance of preventative measures and education to curb the potential for H1N1 outbreaks. The participants agreed that preventative hygienic actions are crucial, particularly in the developing world.

More than 10,000 cases of swine flu have officially been reported to the WHO in 41 countries.

Dr. Stephen P Luby, head of Programme for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Sciences Division (PIDVS), ICDDR,B, underscored the need for individuals be mindful of simple hygienic practices. "In order to prevent any potential outbreak in Bangladesh, people must improve their respiratory hygiene – by sneezing into their elbows instead of into their hands or into the air, practice social distancing, wash hands often throughout the day with soap and water, and refrain from smoking as it impairs respiratory systems."

And one of BRAC’s programmes is the Water, Sanitation, and Health programme (WASH), which was started in 2006 with the aim of providing hygiene education for 37.5 million people. Promoting the same practices that prevent the spread of swine flu, WASH uses the Shebikas to reach community people, and BRAC concurrently works to improve water supplies and sanitation services in their homes and their schools.



BRAC, the international NGO based in Bangladesh, announces contribution of USD 1 million from its fund to Nepal earthquake victims. In addition to this, BRAC Bangladesh, BRAC Bank and BRAC University staff will contribute their one-day basic salary, which is USD 300,000 in total. BRAC Social Enterprises will also contribute another USD 200,000, totalling BRAC’s contribution to Nepal to USD 1.5 million. Moreover, BRAC already took initiative to mobilise USD 15 million from international donors. BRAC International and BRAC’s affiliates in UK and USA will raise these additional funds.

BRAC will start its support activities in one of the most affected areas of Nepal, Nuwakot. Explaining the initiative, senior director of strategy, communications and empowerment of BRAC and BRAC International, Asif Saleh said, “From the very beginning, BRAC has been dedicated to improving the lives of people. We believe it is BRAC’s mandate to come in and aid our neighbouring country, as it faces a major humanitarian crisis. BRAC has years of experience in emergency disaster response. We successfully carried out operations in Haiti, after the devastating earthquake in 2010, Sri Lanka, and in Indonesia after the deadly tsunami in 2004”.

The two yearlong support programme in Nuwakot includes household support for 2,000 household, rehabilitation of 200 maimed earthquake victims (both short-term and long-term), psychosocial rehabilitation of 30,000 earthquake victims, and livelihood support for 5,000 households.    

BRAC International already contributed USD 50,000 from its fund to the earthquake-stricken nation. An emergency medical team from BRAC has been sent to Nepal to provide medical treatment, essential medicine and dry food to earthquake victims. This team is working in Dolekha, Bhaktapur, Sindupalchawk, Lalitpur, and Kathmandu in collaboration with the Nepalese government.
 

16 May 2009, Dhaka. BRAC received an award at the International Conference of Acid Survivors held at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Dhaka on May 13, for its work with victims of acid throwing in Bangladesh. Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) Bangladesh organised the international conference bringing together 600 people -- who were acid survivors, or their relatives or people working for organisations that help acid attack survivors.

Victims of acid attacks are generally women, and they suffer severe burns and life-long pain and disfigurement.

BRAC takes a holistic approach in helping victims of acid attacks, providing them access to medical and psychological treatment as well as access to legal services for them to bring the assailants to justice.
 

 

10 May 2009, Dhaka. Ugandan Vice President Professor Gilbert Bukenya visited various BRAC programmes in Manikganj today (10.05.09). During the visit, Professor Bukenya told local journalist that Bangladesh is a fantastic country. He said that the country has changed vastly in just a few years due to organisations like BRAC.

Gilbert Bukenya traveled from Dhaka early morning to Noyadingi in Manikganj to observe BRAC's Sanitary Napkin Production Centre. He explored the different sections of the handmade napkin factory and spoke to the workers. He also met with a BRAC health volunteer (shashthya shebika) and enquired about her daily work. Later he visited the Ayesha Abed Foundation sub-centre in Sadarpur, Manikganj. Professor Bukenya was impressed by watching almost hundred poor women doing embroidery together.

On his way to the BRAC regional office he stopped at a handloom weaving centre in Gorpara, Manikganj where he viewed handloom weaving and embroidery.

At the regional office, the Ugandan Vice President spoke to local journalists and stated that he visited Bangladesh on a previous occasion while he was a student. He said that the country has changed greatly since then. Professor Bukenya also stated that he will try to replicate BRAC's employment generation enterprises in his country to eradicate poverty. Later he visited the Ayesha Abed Foundation handicraft production and training centre and a milk chilling centre in Dorogram, Manikganj. He also met BRAC microfinance borrowers with livestock enterprises in the same village.

The Ugandan Vice President was accompanied by Mr. H.E. Madhvani, the Ugandan High Commissioner to Dhaka (based in Delhi), and from BRAC, the Executive Director of International Programmes Md. Aminul Alam and Deputy Executive Director Dr. Imran Matin.

The Ugandan Vice President arrived in Dhaka last Thursday for a six-day visit. BRAC began operations in Uganda in 2006 and has quickly grown to become on the largest micro credit providers in the country. BRAC also has integrated programmes in health, education, agriculture and livestock, adolescent development, capacity building, training and research.


 

07 May 2009, Dhaka. Ugandan Vice President Professor Gilbert Bukenya arrives in Dhaka today morning (7.05.09) on a six-day visit to view various BRAC programmes. He is scheduled to visit Savar, Manikganj and Gazipur to observe different programmes of BRAC.

Professor Bukenya will be paying a field visit to Dhamrai in Dhaka on Sunday (10.05.09) to explore BRAC's different programmes. During this unique field visit, the Professor will observe the Social and Financial Empowerment of Adolescents (SOFIA) project of the BRAC Micro Finance Programme (MF), a Human Rights and Legal Education (HRLE) class in session, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programme, and a Non-Formal Primary School. Later, the Ugandan Vice President will visit Manikganj to observe Sanitary Napkin Production Centre, the Ayesha Abed Foundation and the BRAC Adolescent Development Programme (ADP).

On Monday (11.05.09), Professor Bukenya will travel to Sreepur in Gazipur to a BRAC branch office, to witness the Remittance project there. Then, he will go on to observe the Microfinance Programme's Village Organisation (VO) meeting as well as the VO members' diverse income generating activities. Next, the Vice President will visit the Health Programme's Community Health Forum, the TB Control Programme and the Anti Natal Care Clinic.

Upon his return to Dhaka, on the same day, Professor Bukenya will observe the BRAC Soil Testing Laboratory, the Poultry, Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory, Dairy and Food project, the Agricultural Research and Development Centre including a host of other organised BRAC programmes in Gazipur. In the evening, Professor Gilbert Bukenya will attend a meeting with BRAC's Founder and Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed.

The Ugandan Vice President will also pay a courtesy call upon the honourable President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Zillur Rahman and will visit the International Centre for Diarrhea Diseases Research Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) in Mohakhali. During this visit he will be accompanied by Mr. H. E. Madhvani the Ugandan High Commissioner to Dhaka (based in Delhi) and from BRAC, the Executive Director, Dr. Mahabub Hossain, the Executive Director of International Programmes Md. Aminul Alam, and Deputy Executive Director Dr. Imran Matin.

BRAC began operations in Uganda in 2006 and has quickly grown to become one of the largest micro credit providers in the country. BRAC also has integrated programmes in health, education, agriculture and livestock, adolescent development, capacity building, training, and research.

03 May 2009, Dhaka. An Inaugural Ceremony Executive Certificate course in Public Health Management was held at BRAC Centre on May 2, 2009 from 5-6.30pm that was attended by Professor Dr. Syed Modasser Ali, Advisor on Health to the Prime Minister, as the Chief Guest,

In his speech Professor Dr. Syed Modasser Ali, summarized some of the outstanding successes as well as the challenges faced by Bangladesh in enhancing and institutionalizing good management in health services. He also reiterated the need of a sustainable quality management in health system with optimum utilization of available limited resources, technical, financial and human.

Prof. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury Vice Chancellor, BRAC University welcomed all at the session. Mr Mahboob Hossain Executive Director BRAC Chaired the inaugural ceremony. Prof. Anwar Islam, Director gave an overview of the course.
His Excellency Honorable Mr Justin Lee, High Commissioner, Australian High Commission, Dhaka, attended as the special guest and in his brief speech emphasized the need for supporting capacity building and health services development.

The James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University in collaboration with AusAid is offering the Executive Certificate in Public Health Management tailored for participants from the public Sector health professionals working at upazilla level. It is a seven week course starting from 3rd May till June 18th, 2009.

The overarching goal of the course is to provide health professionals with the knowledge, tools and skills essential for effective and efficient management.

Under the overall leadership of Dr. Anwar Islam, Professor and Director, James P. Grant School of Public Health, the course brings together highly trained teachers/experts from the NIPSOM, NIPORT, BRAC and other institutes of higher learning.

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