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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.

 

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.


 

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07 April 2009, Dhaka. The third Technical Advisory Committee meeting of Manoshi was held in BRAC Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh during April 5-6, 2009. Manoshi, a five year community-based maternal, neonatal and child health interventions funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations is being implemented by BRAC to reach 8 million populations in urban slums of Bangladesh to reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality. In order to maintain the highest level of quality,  the Technical Advisory Committee comprising renowned national and international public health professionals, scientists, academics and health care professionals meet each year to provide guidance to the project for further improvement. In addition to field visits in urban slums of Dhaka City, in the meeting, the progress of the project was reviewed. The participants suggested models for packaging services in urban slums and discussed how to make this project sustainable. During discussion, many research issues were identified that captured successes, challenges and gaps of Manoshi project. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Fazle Hasan Abed, the Chairperson and Dr. Mahabub Hossain, the Executive Director of BRAC.

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.
 

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.

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.

25 June 2009, Dhaka. BRAC Founder and Chairperson, Fazle Hasan Abed, was awarded the honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom for his role as "a tireless defender of the needy".  Mr. Abed was admitted the degree on Wednesday, 24 June, along with five other leading figures from the world of development, the arts and science, by Oxford University chancellor, the Rt Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, at Encaenia, the annual honorary degree ceremony.
 

Honorands at the 2009 Encaenia ceremony. From left to right : Fazle Hasan Abed, Dr Santiago Calatrava-Valls , Professor Erwin L Hahn , Dame Mitsuko Uchida ,Professor Barry Marshall, Mr Philip Pullman

Honorands at the 2009 Encaenia ceremony. From left to right : Fazle Hasan Abed, Dr Santiago Calatrava-Valls , Professor Erwin L Hahn , Dame Mitsuko Uchida ,Professor Barry Marshall, Mr Philip Pullman [Photo: University of Oxford]

"He regards poverty not as a simple phenomenon but as one with complex causes, which there is no possibility of eliminating without analysis of its nature and origin.  He wants to help the needy to help themselves; he nourishes their mind as well as their bodies, appreciating that education is the engine of economic development.  Above all, he has insisted on the rights of women, arguing that unless they get a fair share of respect and resources, men themselves will not succeed in overcoming poverty... I present a tireless defender of the needy, a citizen of Bangladesh and of the whole world, Fazle Hasan Abed, to be admitted to the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters," reads Abed's citation.

Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world with nine centuries of continuous existence, is consistently ranked among the world's top ten universities. Previous recipients of Oxford's honorary degrees include Nobel Laureates Rabindranath Tagore and Amartya Sen, former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, American author Mark Twain and former American president Jimmy Carter.

Abed founded BRAC in 1972 to help rehabilitate returning refuges from India to newly independent Bangladesh. Later, BRAC changed its focus to long-term community development. Today, BRAC is the largest non-governmental organisation in the world and its programmes in education, health, economic and social development and human rights and legal services cover a population in excess of 100 million. In addition to numerous national and international awards, Abed was previously awarded degrees of Doctor of Laws by Queen's University in Canada, Doctor in Education by the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and Doctor of Humane Letters by Yale University in the United States in recognition of his work with BRAC.

06 July 2009, Dhaka. Mr. Bert Koenders, the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation, and Ms. Tineke Huizinga, the Dutch State Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management, visited BRAC programmes in Khulna and Bagerhat on Sunday, 5 July, 2009. They were accompanied by the Dutch Ambassador, Ms. Bea ten Tusscher, Dr. Mahabub Hossain, Executive Director of BRAC and the BRAC Directors Dr. Safiqul Islam and Dr. Babar Kabir. 

 

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The delegation first visited a BRAC Adolescent Development Centre in Moubhog. They spoke to the adolescent girls group and inquired about their reproductive health awareness.  Then the delegation visited a BRAC Primary school in upper Moubhog and another one in Narkeli Chandpur. The Ministers spoke to the students about their studies. They also spoke to a differently abled student and inquired about the facilities being provided to her by the BRAC school. The Ministers were treated with a song and dance routine by the school students. Later on the Ministers also visited a Government Primary school.

The delegation then met with a BRAC Village WASH Committee in Kajdia. The field visit was concluded with a short meeting with local government officials and BRAC staff at the Rupsha BRAC Office.

Reflecting on his first field visit in Bangladesh, Mr. Koenders said that it had been a very exciting and useful experience. He expressed his appreciation for the important and successful efforts that were made by BRAC to provide basic social services such as education and sanitation, to isolated rural communities. He emphasised that these services are a basic human right and essential for human development. He also added that he was very pleased to note in the field the constructive collaboration and cooperation between Government and BRAC.

He recognised that the challenges to achieve universal access to social services are enormous because the demand for them is still increasing due to population growth. At the same time, he explained, it is equally important to ensure that these services are of good quality. He emphasised that the role of local communities and local governments is very important. He added that the meetings with local committees, health staff and teachers have shown that real progress is being made.

 

 

18 July 2009, Dhaka. BRAC hosted an event on July 15th in BRAC Centre, Dhaka to mark the launching of two books - "Freedom from Want", and "BRAC: Unnoyoner Ekti Upakkhan" -- both written on the journey of BRAC towards development.

 

BRAC Book Launch

At book launch ceremony From left to right: Mr. Anisul Haque, Prof. Syed monzoorul Islam,Prof. Rehman Sobhan, Dr. A M. M. Shawket Ali, Dr. Mahabub Hossain, Prof. Mustafizur Rahman,Dr. Mashiur Rahman


Chaired by former Adviser to the caretaker government MM Shawkat Ali, the event was also addressed by Chief Guest Economist Professor Rehman Sobhan, Prime Minister's Adviser Mashiur Rahman, Prothom Alo Deputy Editor Anisul Haque, Centre for Policy Dialogue Executive Director Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Dhaka University Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam and Dr. Mahabub Hossain Executive Director of BRAC.

Professor Sobhan stated, "BRAC has a major contribution to the country's poverty alleviation and it engages the poor with income generation activities. In addition, it has established itself as a self-financed organisation over the last three decades." He added, "In its long journey, the organisation has tried to discover the inherent causes of poverty, which is very important in poverty alleviation effort. And then BRAC has initiated different programmes that have engaged a huge number of rural poor to fight poverty."

Dr.  Mashiur Rahman said, "Women who borrowed from BRAC and set up their own shops have already overcome the social barriers. They will not return to the claustrophobic social space." He stated "It is unfair to treat BRAC only as a microcredit organisation and not to differentiate it from other traditional microcredit institutions engaged only or mainly in small loan operations. BRAC has a more comprehensive approach to development, and credit is one of the many elements in it."

The University Press Ltd published the two books titled "BRAC: Unnayaner Ekti Upakhyan" by Faruq Chowdhury, Subol Kumar Bonik and Sajedur Rahman and "Freedom from Want" by Ian Smillie.

 

27 August 2009, Dhaka. BRAC for the first time has entered the fast growing Islamic Finance Industry. BRAC is providing Technical Assistance (TA) to Bank Al Usra in Khartoum, Sudan. This is being carried out under the one year agreement of USD 334,880 signed between the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Jeddah, Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS) and BRAC Bangladesh.

With BRAC’s assistance, Bank Al Usra’s performance has been praised in the banking sector of Sudan for its outreach in both rural and urban areas, and meeting the needs of the communities. BRAC has successfully completed the first three months of its Technical Assistance to Bank Al Usra. A three member BRAC Microfinance specialist team led by Murtaza Reza Chowdhury arrived in Khartoum on April to assist in building the capacity of Bank Al Usra, the first Islamic Microfinance Bank in Sudan. Based on the team’s performance during the first three months, IDB has already paid the second installment to BRAC.

Bank Al Usra has eleven branch offices (six of which had been opened with the assistance of BRAC TA team) in four states. Eight more branches are to be opened by the end of the Agreement in March 2010.

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