Bangaldesh

Bangladesh is a country that suffers from extreme poverty in large part due to geography and poorly structured governance. Frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, as well as delays in implementing economic reforms and an inability to move labor out of the agriculture sector have stunted economic growth. Natural disasters routinely destroy all the physical possessions of the poorest segments of Bangladeshi society. Approximately 65% of all Bangladeshis work in agriculture, mainly in rice production. Bangladesh has the second highest population density in the world, causing overcrowding and undercapitalization throughout the nation. In addition, cultivated land is dominated by subsistence farmers who work plots of land too small to be economically viable. Though there has been some modest economic growth in recent years, it has not been enough to significantly reduce poverty levels.

Looking at poverty statistics, estimates of the percentage of Bangladeshis living in poverty range from 33% to 50% of a population of 139.2 million. These people spend nearly three quarters of their household income in food. In addition, almost one fifth of Bangladeshis are designated as “ultra poor.” These people literally have nothing and suffer constantly from malnutrition. The urban poor and those living in hard-to-reach regions of the country live without access to safe water, adequate sanitation, basic healthcare services, and educational opportunities.

Bangladesh faces a variety of serious human rights issues. One of the major problems has been rising levels of violence perpetrated by Islamist groups. These organizations have targeted opposition groups, government officials, judges, lawyers, human rights activists, members of minority communities, and places of worship. Bombings have become relatively frequent in the last decade. In February 2006, the Bangladeshi government banned two Islamist groups believed to be responsible for the majority of the bombings. These groups were Jama’atul Mujahideen (Assembly of the Holy Warriors) Bangladesh and Jagrata Muslim Janata (Awakened Muslim Citizens) Bangladesh.

In addition, the government of Bangladesh has been charged with high levels of corruption. Bangladesh has been named the most corrupt country in the world five years in a row by Transparency International, a non-governmental organization. There have also been accusations of persecution of journalists, human rights groups, and minorities by state officials such as the police, the army, and other law enforcement personnel.

Amnesty International has reported widespread violence against women in Bangladesh. Rape and domestic abuse were the more common accusations, though murder and other forms of violence were also noted. Many of these crimes go unreported, due in large part to social stigma and failure to act on the part of the police. There is also a lack of support for the victims in both the legal system and the larger community.

The level of HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh has yet to reach critical levels and the country is still considered a low prevalence nation. The number of people living with HIV is estimated at about 13,000 and the number of HIV/AIDS deaths at about 650. UNAIDS notes that “a major challenge in the country continues to be the lack of urgency in dealing with HIV-related issues.”

The disease is not viewed as posing a significant threat and therefore has yet to be adequately responded to. While emphasis has been placed on educating populations at high risk, such as those working in the sex industry, this has lead to a decreased awareness in the general population, as well as in policy makers.

Other diseases of concern in Bangladesh are malaria and tuberculosis, which are widespread in the region and have added to the problem of rampant malnutrition. With the aid of government programs that subsidize vaccination costs, the Bangladeshi population has begun receiving immunizations at a higher rate. The country also faces a high risk of food and waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever, hepatitis A, and hepatitis E. The avian flu virus H5N1 was identified in Bangladesh and the country took precautions to halt the spread of the virus. As of this writing, it had not yet been identified in a human in Bangladesh.

Major environmental hazards in Bangladesh include droughts, cyclones, and widespread flooding. In fact, nearly one third of the nation floods every year during the monsoon season. These natural disasters have had a dramatic influence on the Bangladeshi economy, preventing sustained development. The country has also seen an increase in water pollution, particularly in fishing areas, as a result of farmers using commercial pesticides.

In some areas, the ground water has been contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic and there have also been intermittent water shortages resulting from falling water tables, both of which have contributed to the population’s limited access to safe water. Further compounding this problem is the fact that waterborne diseases are also prevalent in the surface water.

Overpopulation has taken a heavy toll on the country’s natural resources. With nearly all the arable land already under cultivation, farmers have been forced to expand into the forests, leading to severe deforestation in the region. This, combined with the seasonal flooding, has brought about soil degradation and erosion throughout the country.

Recent figures indicate that only 43.1% of the Bangladeshi population is literate. That figure is higher for males and lower for females. The government has made attempts to increase education levels, including though support of almost all the nation’s educational institutions. Five years of primary education is both free and compulsory but rural girls are not covered under this law.

Estimates for primary-school attendance range from 70% to 93% of eligible children. According to a recent UNESCO report, only 76% of children complete the full five years of primary school. Other sources state that only 18% of eligible children attend secondary school. In Bangladesh, there are seven universities, ten medical colleges, and ten teacher-training colleges.

AAAD-Bangladesh - Since its foundation in 1999, the AAAD mission has remained unchanged: to help the poorest to improve their access to healthcare, education, agriculture, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to the emergency situations generated by man-made crises, civil conflict, natural disaster, and even in war.

Bangladesh Education and Resource Network – bEARN The vision and purpose of bEARN is to enable young people to undertake projects designed to make a meaningful contribution to the health and welfare of the planet and its people.

BRIF – Bangladesh Rural Improvement Fund - The Bangladesh Rural Improvement Fund (BRIF) is a non-government and non-profit development organization founded in 1984. Through community development BRIF endeavors to raise the socio-economic condition of numerous disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in northern Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum – BSAF Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar (Child Rights) Forum (BSAF) is the apex body of 152 NGOs of Bangladesh working in the child rights sector. Its representative and national status gives it a greater reach to draw attention to issues concerning the rights and well being of children at national, regional, and international levels.

Bangladesh Social Welfare Workers Association – BSWWA - Bangladesh Social Welfare Workers Association is a non-profit community development youth organization of Bangladesh. It is engaged in human rights, mass education, anti-drug activities, environment protection, employment creation for the poor youths, and providing training on self-employment.

Hope Foundation for Women and Children of Bangladesh - Hope Foundation for Women and Children of Bangladesh was founded to address the needs of the women and children of Bangladesh. Hope Foundation supports the Cox’s Bazar Hospital for Women and Children and aims to serve millions of people by providing education, acute medical care, treatment and the rehabilitation of the sick, injured, disabled, and destitute women and children of Bangladesh.

Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities – HRCBM is a human rights and humanitarian services organization dedicated to protect the human rights of people in Bangladesh. The organization provides legal and rehabilitation support to women and children. Other services include but are not limited to disaster relief and humanitarian assistance and sustaining development.

Integrated Social Development Effort (ISDE), Bangladesh - ISDE Bangladesh aspires to create a poverty and hunger-free, just society of educated, socio-economically developed and environmentally friendly people. The mission of the organization is to facilitate socio-economic change in the lives of disadvantaged people, particularly women and children, in the southeast of Bangladesh through the promotion of income and employment generation activities, health services, education, and awareness raising.

The Rural Youth Council – Bangladesh is a coordination committee of the rural youth and community development organizations of Bangladesh. The main activities of the organization are: employment creation for the rural youth, training them to be self-employed, to support peace initiatives, to establish children’s rights, women’s rights, and human rights as a whole.

Self Salvation Bangladesh - Self Salvation Bangladesh, a non-government, social, non-profit, voluntary organization working on health, environment, indigenous population, preserve cultural heritage and cater to the communication needs of the development sectors of Bangladesh.

Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha (SSS), Bangladesh - The mission of Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha (SSS) is to assist distressed women, children, youth, aged groups, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, sex workers, and transvestites, in improving their overall socio-economic condition with the objective of attaining their self-reliance.

AKSUS - Help distressed women, widows, divorced women and their children. Protecting women and children from HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. Children’s talent exercise and development.

Bangladesh Rural Improvement Foundation BRIF - Each year, BRIF identifies 10 key projects in the local area that will help to make a big difference to rural people’s lives. The organization then invites volunteers from all over the world to come along for two weeks and “blitz” the project. By the end of two weeks, the project will be complete and the volunteers with have made a genuine difference in alleviating the poverty faced by local people.

Bangladesh Work Camps Association – BWCA has been placing overseas non-skilled interested young people and students interested in contributing their physical/mental/intellectual support towards the implementation of different community development projects run by the NGOs/Units and partners of the BWCA in Bangladesh.

Concordia International Volunteer Projects - Carry out tree planting activities, work on community development programs, build a volunteer center. These are just some of the volunteer opportunities available through Concordia in Bangladesh.

Emigrants Welfare Association of Bangladesh - Paid internships and volunteers play a major role in the implementation of the projects undertaken by EWA Bangladesh at different points in time. Besides playing a vital role in the development of Bangladesh through different development projects.

Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh - Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh was established in 1999 with the goal of eliminating impoverished housing in Bangladesh. It conducts its activities through local habitat affiliates, satellites, and in partnerships.

Traveling Volunteers Placement Program - This program places potential volunteers with local agencies in need of assistance.

UNV Bangladesh - The United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) is the volunteer arm of the UN system. It extends hands-on assistance for peace and development in nearly 150 countries. Created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 and administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNV works through UNDP country offices to send volunteers and promote the ideals of volunteerism around the world.

Volunteer Health Professionals – Volunteer Health Professionals, Inc., (VHP) is a not-for-profit corporation founded for the purpose of developing and supporting primary medical, dental, and preventative health care systems in developing nations.

Volunteers for Peace – Volunteers for Peace offers eight different affordable, short-term volunteer service programs in Bangladesh. These international voluntary service projects are an opportunity to participate in meaningful community service while living and interacting in an intercultural environment.