DONATE TO BRAC'S CYCLONE RELIEF EFFORTS!

15,000 employees gather
to celebrate BRAC’s 35th anniversary

DHAKA, 14 FEBRUARY 2008 – BRAC will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Friday through an evening of music and entertainment at the Dhaka Army Stadium. Nearly 15,000 members of the BRAC family will travel to Dhaka from around the country to take part in the festivities. Read More

BRAC continues extensive cyclone relief operations
150,000 families to be reached with emergency relief

DHAKA, BANGLADESH, 21 November 2007 – BRAC is carrying out extensive relief operations in 2,537 villages in 60 worst affected upazilas across 11 districts of Bangladesh. More than 2,500 BRAC staff and 13 medical teams are engaged in providing round-the-clock relief and medical care to the victims. Immediately following the cyclone, BRAC launched its emergency relief programme, initially allocating Tk. 7 crore. Two senior BRAC Directors are supervising relief operations on location. Read More

BRAC continues campaign for release of kidnapped employee Read More

Cyclone Sidr Update – 19 November 2007

Cyclone victims are in immediate need of potable drinking water as the cyclone has flooded tubewells with saline water and also ruined surface water sources. Without access to clean drinking water as well as proper sanitation facilities, the risk of waterborne diseases has become critical, especially for children. Currently, BRAC staff on the ground providing immediate relief and medical care are distributing water purification tablets to be used with pond water. Pond cleaning drives and insertion of deep tube wells will also be initiated following emergency relief. To alleviate the current potable water crisis, BRAC is seeking assistance in procuring water desalinating systems.

BRAC Head Office staff have also initiated a clothes drive in Dhaka to collect winter clothing for the cyclone victims.

Cyclone Sidr Update – 18 November 2007

Cyclone Sidr has caused devastation in the region covering greater Barisal, Khulna and Faidpur districts of Bangladesh. Sidr was nearly of the same magnitude as the December 1970 cyclone in the then East Pakistan in which almost 500,000 people lost their lives. According to preliminary estimates obtained from BRAC field offices, nearly 12% of BRAC offices operating in Bangladesh have been severely affected by the cyclone and the overall death toll in the country is likely to exceed 5,000.

The affected areas mostly depend on a single crop, the aman variety of rice, which is usually harvested in December. This year’s crop has now been totally destroyed. The impact on household-level food security will therefore be severe, as it will take almost a full year to recover rice production.

We urge you to contribute to BRAC’s cyclone relief efforts which are providing immediate assistance in the affected areas and planning extended livelihood rehabilitation programmes for the victims.

BRAC launches extensive relief operations
USD 1 million already allocated

DHAKA, BANGLADESH, 17 November 2007 – BRAC has initiated extensive emergency relief operations in the immediate aftermath of cyclone Sidr. From its own funds, an initial commitment of USD 1 million (approximately Tk. 7 crore) has already been made by BRAC towards providing relief to the victims and for livelihood rehabilitation operations. BRAC hopes to mobilise an additional USD 1 million (approximately Tk. 7 crore) for disaster relief. BRAC is also planning extensive housing rehabilitation operations to follow the emergency relief work. Read More

BRAC Chairperson Fazle Abed receives first Clinton Global Citizen Award

DHAKA, BANGLADESH, 29 September 2007 – Former US President Bill Clinton presented the Inaugural Clinton Global Citizen Awards to BRAC Founder and Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed and three other individuals last Thursday evening at Carnegie Hall in New York, honoring their outstanding achievements which have inspired change and made a positive impact on the world. Read More

BRAC makes $271m Education Commitment at 2007 Clinton Global Initiative

DHAKA, BANGLADESH, 28 September 2007 – Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairperson of Brac, yesterday announced $271 million for providing education to 7.5 million children and youth in Asia and Africa over the next five years. Read More

Burial of BRAC Official Killed in Afghanistan
BRAC Family Mourns Tragic Death of Abdul Alim

DHAKA, BANGLADESH, 19 September 2007 – The body of BRAC Area Manager Abdul Alim (37), who was killed by unidentified assailants in Afghanistan, has been buried today at his village in Tangail. Senior BRAC officials from the head office and regional offices attended the burial. Read More

BRAC Chairperson Appeals for Immediate Release of
BRAC Official Kidnapped in Afghanistan

DHAKA, BANGLADESH, 18 September 2007 – BRAC Founder and Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed has expressed great concern regarding the kidnapping, in Afghanistan, of BRAC Area Manager Nurul Islam and appealed for his immediate release. He has also expressed deep sadness at the recent killing, in Afghanistan, of BRAC Area Manager Md. Abdul Alim. Read More

BRAC Receives Independence Award 2007

DHAKA, BANGLADESH, 25 March 2007 – For its pioneering role in socioeconomic development, the Government of Bangladesh has awarded BRAC the highest national award, the "Swadhinota Puroshkar" (Independence Award) for 2007. Read More