News & Views Issue 3 October 2013

A Q u a r t e r l y N e w s l e t t e r o f I s l a m i c R e l i e f , B a n g l a d e s h

Voyage towards a Caring and Resilient Bangladesh

A sharing meeting took place between the visiting „All Party Parliamentary Group‟, Fire Service and Civil De-fense (FSCD) and Islamic Relief Bangladesh at the FSCD Training Complex on 13 September 2013. A six

member delegation from the UK attended the sharing session including Anne Main, Rushanara Ali, Nick de Bois, Simon Danc-zuk, Jonathan Reynolds and Shabana Mahmood.

Given the recent fire incidents and risky working environment in the garment factories, the session was arranged to contribute more for the safety and security for the garment workers. Being the first responder organization, FSCD shared its experience of noteworthy incidents like Tazreen fire and Rana Plaza collapse. Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan, PSC, Director General of FSCD and other impor-tant officials of FSCD were present in the sharing meeting.

Emphasizing on the importance of capacity building of the garment workers on fire safety and security, Ms. Anne Main MP gave her speech at first on behalf of the UK delegation. She pointed out that usually the garment workers are not edu-cated on preparedness, emergency and rescue operation. There-fore, it is really frightening for them to act properly in accident and disaster.

Ms. Rushanara Ali MP raised her concern over the poor working condition of the garment sector and called upon the international as well as the domestic business community to work more effec-tively to ensure safer working environment for the garment worker. Ms. Ali congratulated the team members Islamic Relief for their work around the world.

All participants of the sharing session drew attention on the well being of people especially of them who are not well acquainted

with safety and security issues. As more disasters are taking place, the participants of the meeting urged to promote awareness and knowledge and build capacity of the people to ensure their own safety. Though, FSCD is working with urban community volunteers, there is still a huge need of skilled urban community volunteers due to the rapid pace of urbanization.

Mr. Shabel Firuz, the Country Di-

rector of Islamic Relief, Bangla-

desh, concluded the session by

thanking UK Government for being

a friend to Bangladesh. The parliamentarian group observed an

earthquake response drill following the sharing session.

UK Delegation Called for Safe and Secured Working Environment

Participants at the sharing meeting

The visitors observed the drill

W ith the theme “Making a Difference with Zakat”, a Zakat Fair 2013, first of its kind in Bangladesh, con-cluded adopting a ten-point declaration regarding calculation, collection and distribution of Zakat at the

National Shooting Federa-tion Auditorium (Shooting Club), Gulshan, Dhaka on 5-6 July 2013.

Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Mu-hammad Abdur Rouf inau-gurated the Fair and former Advisor to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury was present in the conclud-ing session as Chief Guest.

Five like-minded organisa-tions including Islamic Re-lief Bangladesh jointly or-ganised the Fair with an aim to motivate people to give their Zakat in an or-ganised and coordinated manner towards sustain-able livelihoods and poverty reduction.

Millions of thousands of people from all walks of life visited stalls and actively participated in various sharing sessions.

Former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Genral (Rtd.) Nooruddin Khan, Managing Director of Exim Bank Dr. Mohammad Hai-dar Ali Miah, Convener of the Zakat Fair Organising Committee Dr. Mohammad Ayub Mia and Country Di-rector of Islamic Relief Bangladesh Shabel Firuz were among others ad-dressed the programme.

The speakers reiterated the need for a coordinated and holistic Zakat Manage-ment System as Zakat is one of the major pillars of Islam. They further empha-sized on the involvement of all stakeholders including the government and sug-gested whether Zakat can be an import source of national revenue income.

Making a Difference with Zakat

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Islamic Relief Bangladesh Country Director greeted the visitors at the stall

Sharing session at Zakat Fair

P A G E 3

6 057 ultra poor families of 22 districts from across Bangla-

desh were benefited from Islamic Relief‟s Ramadan food

distributions programme.

Every household was

provided with a food package of

42.45 KGs which includes Rice

30 KGs, Lentil 3.45 KGs, Oil 3

Liters, Peas 3 KGs and Sugar 3

KGs for a period of 30 days.

In selecting beneficiaries, priori-

ties were given to the ultra poor

household particularly the eld-

erly, widowed, people with dis-

ability, female-headed house-

hold and victim of natural disas-

ters.

For ensuring quality food distri-

bution, Islamic Relief strictly fol-

lowed different guidelines includ-

ing the SPHERE standards and Ramadan Food Distribution Man-

ual. Government officials, elected representatives, NGO profes-

sionals, media personnel and civil society members were among

others attended the programme at various distribution points.

As an immediate impact of the pro-

gramme, these families started their

Ramadan without having any scarcity

of food and saved money which they

used to buy food items during Rama-

dan and were able purchase Eid gifts

and cloths for their near and dear

ones.

It was also helped them a lot of not

taking any loan from NGOs, Micro

Finance Institutions, money lender,

neighbors and shopkeeper with high

interests.

Another long-term significant impact of

this programme was the improved

nutrition and health which helps them

to lead a healthier and peaceful life.

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Ramadan food distributions benefited 6057 households

across Bangladesh

Ramadan food distributions benefited 6057 households across Bangladesh

IRB Country Director distributed food items to the victims of Rana Plaza, Savar, Dhaka

P A G E 4

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Crafting clothes and hope in Rangpur

N ine hundred women have opened a unique clothing and soft furnishings showroom in northern Bangladesh, as part of an Islamic Relief project designed to support them in building livelihoods.

The women, of Rangpur‟s Mithapukur sub-district, came together under a scheme funded by Forum Syd. The project provided them with opportunities to enhance their skills in hand stitching, tailoring, block and traditional batik and helped the group to buy materials and equipment to get started.

It also trained the women on small-business skills – including sourcing value-for-money and quality materials, display-ing their hand-made products, and reaching local and national markets.

The products – which include saris, shirts, and children‟s clothes as well as bed linen – are on display at „Naowar‟, the new Sales and Display Centre in Rangpur District Administration Community Market. The centre is generating more publicity and branding, and has become a hub for wholesalers and retailers.

Mr. Rezaul Karim Reza, Chairman of Pairabandh Union Parishad said: “Naowar has the potential to be a popular brand in handicraft market. The dedication and commitment of the entrepreneurs can be a good example for others.” Since the project began, the Naowar Women Development Organisation has saved BDT. 120,000(around 963 GBP), and the entrepreneur group continues to expand its market to different regions of Bangladesh.

On June 2013, Naowar have also show-cased their products in the Islamic Relief World Expo, held this summer in Lidcombe, Australia - and are set to carry on developing the enterprise into the future.

“Most of our times were wasted by gossiping after households work and we were upset for not doing anything produc-tive, But, each of six hundreds out of nine hundreds poor women has their own work now and earns money by making handicrafts”-Sumona Akter Shirin, President of Naowar Women Development Organization, an apex body of the rural entrepreneurs, has expressed her deep satisfaction over their involvement with this income generating intervention.

P A G E 5

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I slamic Relief Bangladesh is building disaster resil-ience in areas frequently struck by environmental disasters such as flooding, cyclones, and the con-tamination of water sources.

Towards a resilient community, Islamic Relief develops the capacity of the people of Khulna, Patuakhali, Sat-khira and Sunamganj. The organisation is also under-taken training programme for the locals who struggle to make better livelihoods that work in harmony with the local environment and are less likely to be jeopardised by natural disasters.

As part of the comprehensive capacity development

programme, Islamic Relief handed over search & res-

cue equipments to Upzaila Disaster Management Com-

mittee (UzDMC) and Union Disaster Management Com-

mittee (UDMC) that helps the local residents to plan

towards mitigating the effects of crises and be better

prepared when disasters hit.

Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Mr. Mejbah Uddin re-

ceived the equipments and thanked Islamic Relief for continuous support in regard to risk reduction and climate

change adaptation in the south western region of Bangladesh. Mr. Shamim Hasan, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of

Koyra and Syed Shahnawaz Ali, Head of ICDR of Islamic Relief were among others present in the ceremony.

“My family suffered a lot as I didn‟t have an income,” said Laila Begum, who participated in an Islamic Relief livelihood

support project that comes to an end on August. “But, Islamic Relief helped me to buy a cow through which I can ac-

cumulate capital to lead a respectable life in future.”

Laila and her family were one of 8,787 families in

Chittagong to benefit from one of Islamic Relief‟s live-

lihood projects.

A number of coastal sub-districts in Chittagong were

badly affected by floods, river erosion and salinity last

year. Several hundred-thousand families lost their

crops and struggled to earn a living through activities

upon which they previously relied - such as livestock

rearing, homestead gardening, and fishing.

The project - which started on January 2013 - saw the

area‟s most vulnerable poor families receive cash

grants, training and support to build small businesses.

Families were identified through rigorous consultation

with the community, local government and civil soci-

ety organisations. Orientation on livestock rearing,

homestead gardening and fishing was supported by a

cash-grant of BDT.10, 000 ($125). Islamic Relief also

established links with the local supply chain as well

as service providers.

“Islamic Relief set a glaring example of transparency and participatory approaches in implementing the development

project,” said Mosad Hossain Chowdhury, the Chairman of Sadaha Union of Satkania. Shabbir Iqbal, Upazila Nirbahi

Officer of Banshkhali, a severely affected sub-district said, “Islamic Relief‟s effort to help ultra-poor people to get out of

poverty was a much appreciated initiative.” The DfID funded project contributed to the recovery of food security and

livelihoods of vulnerable families in Bangladesh‟s south-eastern coastal belt.

Escaping poverty in the southeastern coastal belt of Bangladesh

Strengthening the Capacity of Disaster Management Committees

Grocery shop of a project beneficiary

Deputy Commissioner of Khulna received the equipments

from Islamic Relief Bangladesh

P A G E 6

Editor: Mohammad Alamgir

Executive Editor: Safiul Azam

Contributors: Rafatur Rahman Ruba,

Rakibul Hasan, Md. Shahinul Hasan,

Md. Mohaiminur Rahman Shaheen, Dr. Md Kamrul Islam

Design & Layout: Safiul Azam

To subscribe to this newsletter,

or to send comments to the editor,

please email: info@islamicrelief-bd.org

News & Views Page 6

Islamic Relief, Bangladesh

House 10, Road 10, Block K

Baridhara, Dhaka-1212

For more information about Islamic Relief Bangladesh, or to download this

newsletter,

please visit: www.islamicrelief.org.bd

N ational Girl Child Day 2013 observed through a unified campaign engaging a broad network through rallies, human chain and media mobilization in the discussion.

The objective of the campaign was to provide safety-security, better health, education and nutrition to girls who are being forced to get married. Islamic Relief Bangladesh took part in the campaign as a mem-ber of National Girl Child Advo-cacy Forum, a network of 165 non government organisations. IRB sponsored an art competi-tion for the students aged be-tween 3 and 16 at Bangladesh Shishu Academy on 21 Septem-ber 2013. Participants sketched their thoughts around themes such as family, school, and girls‟ relationship with nature, to en-courage their articulation of their role in society. Further, Islamic Relief also participated in the roundtable titled

„Preventing Child Marriage and Keeping Girls at School‟ at Na-tional Press Club, Dhaka on October 2, 2013. Dr. Saydul Alom, Head of Health, Education and Child Welfare was a key discuss-ant in the round table. Among others Ms. Ayesha Khanom, Chair-

person, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad participated as chief guest, Mr. M Hamid, Director General, BTV as Special Guest while Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, President, National Girl Child Advocacy Forum chaired in the program.

Dr. Saydul Alom said, “we will have to change our fam-ily outlooks. Marriage en-sures safety and security of girls, they think and that‟s why they go for child mar-riage. This outlook is suici-dal and it must be stopped”.

In the round table, the par-ticipants emphasized on the

effective implementation of relevant laws and policies to prevent this nuisance for the country‟s girls by are creating social aware-ness and active participation of all relevant stakeholders.

IR Bangladesh celebrated National Girl Child Day 2013

Dr. Saydul Alom spoke at the roundtable

Art competition