PROMOTING PEACE & JUSTICE (PPJ) CUMILLA, FENI , KURIGRAM & LAKSHMIPUR BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION :

Legal aid–a means to promote access to justice–still remains a far cry for the citizens of Bangladesh, especially for women. Bangladesh’s formal justice system remains relatively inaccessible for the vast majority of the public. Vulnerable groups, including women and children, ethnic minorities, the poor, and people with disabilities face particular difficulty in accessing timely and affordable justice. The lack of access to justice and basic justice for all is a defining characteristic of human poverty. In Bangladesh, despite impressive achievements towards a number of Millennium Development Goals, it is widely acknowledged that many continue to suffer from challenges against the rule of law, limited justice options, as well as the lack of knowledge and protection of justice for all. Legal aid is the assistance given to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation or access to the court. It is neither charity nor mercy, it is a right of the poor and underprivileged section of the society.  Article 27 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh guarantees that “all citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.” Despite such provisions, many people are deprived of their constitutional rights to access justice due to poverty. The state legal Aid Program is administered within the legal framework of the Legal Aid Services Act, 2000 (LASA). In terms of LASA, National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO) has been established by the government. NLASO is a statutory body working under Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs to adopt policies and principles for making legal services available under the Act. NLASO is responsible for implementing government legal aid across the country. Management authority of NLASO is vested in a National Board of Management chaired by the minister, Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs.

Peace and Justice in Bangladesh is mediated by expensive, time consuming and complex procedures in the legal system. Most vulnerable groups in society are disadvantaged in using the formal justice system because of poverty and lack of knowledge. In other words, barriers to access to justice are both external in that they are located in the structure and culture of institutions and entities that are entrusted with the delivery of justice as well as intrinsic to the circumstances of individuals seeking justice.

Access to justice has been defined by UNDP as the “ability of people from disadvantaged groups to prevent and overcome human poverty by seeking and obtaining a remedy, through the justice system, for grievance in accordance with human rights principles and standards” UNDP promotes a two-fold mission in this area; (i) to secure that the law, irrespective of wealth, race or creed, treats all men and women equally, and (ii) to secure that all, including the poorest and those without skills, knowledge or resources of their own, have access to and trust in law and the legal system. People who are poor or belong to socially disadvantaged groups are particularly vulnerable to human rights violations and abuses by both state and non-state actors. The most important defence they can have against such abuses is the protection that the justice system can offer. Poor and socially disadvantaged people usually lack the capability to obtain court protection for a number of reasons, not least because of the high costs involved. Even when provision for free legal aid exists, they may lack the necessary information and self-confidence to seek redress through the courts. Thus, States have a positive obligation to facilitate the access of poor people to courts, tribunals and other dispute resolution mechanisms as a remedy against human rights violations.

According to High Court, there is more than 500,000 case for trial in their hands for judgment and it will take 30 years if they do not allow a single case further (Source: Daily Ittefaq, February 1, 2019 , front page news article). Weak court performance which derives from a poorly capacitated and outdated court case management system as well as poorly trained judges in lower courts and inadequate number of judicial staff. In general the system is characterised by weak court administration; including poor case management and a poor filing system. The judicial system is apparently insensitive to gender, poverty and human rights. There is weak oversight and guidance by higher judicial institutions. The system faces interference and manipulation aggravated by the judiciary being subject to executive control and administration. Public prosecution services suffer because of insufficient evidence and lack of independence. Disadvantaged groups, especially women, children and indigenous peoples, have limited access to government legal assistance funds. Procedures for obtaining these funds are cumbersome and the information about the existence of these funds is also not widely known. Moreover the government provision is limited and cannot possibly meet the needs of the poor and disadvantaged.

The mandate of NLASO is to provide legal aid services especially for the poor free of cost. Our experience shows that some of the UZLAC & UPLAC was not formed even the Union Parishad Chairman /Members are not well aware about the National Legal Aid Act-2000 and the role of UPLAC in Cumilla, Laxmipur & Kurigram District. Main risk and challenges of the project is making active UZLAC and UPLAC. By providing training and awareness to the both committee is the way to mitigation of the risk and challenges.

RESULTS, OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES, AND IMPACT

Results:

• Justice for rural poor women, men, adolescents and children ensured ;
• People’s confidence in government institutions of Bangladesh – especially on judicial institutions improved
• Access and Referral system and services for poor and marginalized people especially for women and children improved
• Government legal aid service delivery efficiency, visibility and use at local level improved to ensure justice for citizens living in the project area
• Collaboration and networks of government judicial departments with different organization, institutions and other stakeholders enhanced and gender friendly laws improved.

Outputs and Outcomes, and Impact:

• Early marriage, dowry, trafficking and domestic violence reduced by 40%.
• Poor and marginalized people seeks justice from Legal Aid Committees at Union/Upazila /District levels without any fear by 50%
• Poor and marginalized people especially for women and children gained easy access to Union Legal Aid Committees and their unresolved cases are referred to District Legal Aid Committee (DALC) through UZLAC or directly by 30%
• Legal Aid Committees at Union/Upazila /District levels became pro-active and friendly to poor and marginalized people with successful mediation by 50%.
• Increased participation in local govt. power structure by 20% (Union Parishad, CSOs, CBOs, religious committee, legal aid committee)
  
  

BUILDING PREPAREDNESS OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGH INCLUSIVE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION INITIATIVES

Desired Impact: The goal of the project is to contribute to preparing communities to better withstand reoccurring natural disasters. The project will build on learning from the existing project to focus on basic disaster preparedness techniques as well as encouraging community structures and livelihoods which contribute to building disaster ready communities. In doing so communities will be able to better anticipate, respond to and recover from the negative impact of recurrent natural hazards.

Outcomes, Objectives and Activities: nHigh-level summary of progress made toward achieving the overall outcome(s) of the project during the reporting period.

Outcome 1: The capacity of 104 targeted communities including older women and men and people with disabilities have been strengthened to reduce the negative impact of disasters caused by natural hazards ensuring their capacities and needs are reflected and addressed in disaster prepared livelihoods, inclusive disaster risk reduction plans, and disaster response actions in Bangladesh by the end of the project. The project has been able to develop or re-establish 24 OP inclusive Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMC), 2 Union Disaster Management Committee (UDMC), in Bangladesh. These local bodies are inclusive and have representation from all religion, castes, ethnic group or vulnerable groups, present in the community. These committees are organizing monthly meetings on a regular basis with a clear agenda, and also documenting the minutes of meeting. Most of them have conducted or revised the PVCA and has also prepared the risk reduction plans. They are submitted to the local government for endorsement. The local government has taken up activities from the previously developed plan and also completed few of them. Government in Nepal provides DRR fund for use during emergencies on annual basis which is a good recognition of the committees created. Sub-committees have been formed on early warning system, search and rescue and first aid in both the countries, as per the government guidelines. For provision of OP inclusive disaster preparedness and response materials, Bangladesh team has identified 356 most vulnerable older people whose vulnerability can be reduced by provision of aid-assistive devices. About 3,000 OP have been able to benefit through livelihood seed grants and strengthen their livelihoods. The activities for further strengthening the committees and training of sub-committees is planned in the second year of the project.

Outcome 2: Humanitarian actors including local, national and international NGOs, UN agencies, government and donors have knowledge, capacity and appropriate tools and plans to ensure age inclusive humanitarian responses in Bangladesh and Nepal by end of project. A google survey of likeminded and humanitarian orgnizations (both at local and country level) is planned to be conducted to understand current understanding of the organization and their interest in age and disability inclusion. The questionnaires in both the countries have been finalized and are expected to be launched in August 2018. Based on the results of the survey, the organizations will be asked to nominate a focal person in organization. A training of inclusion standards will be organized in September 2018 in Bangladesh; and in October 2018 in Nepal. Following the completion of these trainings, we expect about 25 percent participants to prepare a personal/organisational action plan, which will then be given specific technical assistance on age and disability-inclusive CBDRM planning. HelpAge local partners in Nepal have implemented HOPE trainings at local level for awareness of stakeholders on inclusion and they also plan to implement trainings on inclusion standards also in November and December 2018.

Outcome 3: Disaster affected older women and men meet their age inclusive crucial needs, and also reduce lives lost by lower profile South Asian natural disasters during the project period. During the project period, four emergencies have been responded through REF, two in Bangladesh and two in SriLanka. Through REF, HelpAge has been able to provide initial response for floods, landslides and severe cold wave. The fund mobilized for the four emergency responses is USD 73,049 which has benefited 15,282 older people and their family members directly with provision of cash grants, blankets, drinking water, non-food items, supplementary food, and outreach health services. The beneficiaries for ongoing SriLanka response are not yet reported as HelpAge is still responding to the emergency. To set a good example on data collection and its use during emergencies, HelpAge in Bangladesh responded to emergencies in the areas of MACF project presence. The targeted older people households have been selected from the list which was prepared during the PVCA exercise conducted in the target communities under MACF IDR phase-1. This helped in quick identification of target beneficiaries and helped in timely response to the emergencies.

Outcome 4: Knowledge management and systematic learning and sharing of age and gender Inclusive Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) has been improved for ensuring better quality of CBDRR programming within HelpAge and its network Under this outcome, HelpAge is working on development of age-inclusive DRR strategy. The focus is on digging down to the specific actions needed for older people in disaster mitigation, preparedness and response.

Coordinated Effort to Combat Child Marriage through Massive Awareness:  Goal: Support girls in Bangladesh to realize their rights to protection and education through reduction of child marriage.  Objective: To reduce incidence of child marriage among girls in 12 Upazilas (sub-districts) of 06 districts in Bangladesh through mass awareness raising and strengthening child protection mechanism against child marriage in order to support girls, right to an education.

Bangladesh committed to? Bangladesh has committed to eliminate child, early and forced marriage by 2030 in line with target 5.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals. During its Voluntary National Review at the 2017 High Level Political Forum, the government noted that women’s empowerment plays a prominent role in the Constitution of Bangladesh, the National Women Development Policy and the Child Marriage Restraint Act. Bangladesh ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990 which sets a minimum age of marriage of 18, and acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1984, which obligates states to ensure free and full consent to marriage. Bangladesh is a focus country of the UNICEF-UNFPA Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage, a multi-donor, multi-stakeholder programme working across 12 countries over four years. Bangladesh is a member of the South Asian Initiative to End Violence against Children (SAIEVAC) which adopted a regional action plan to end child marriage from 2015-2018. Representatives of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), including Bangladesh, asserted the Kathmandu Call to Action to End Child Marriage in Asia in 2014. As part of its commitment, Bangladesh will ensure access to legal remedies for child brides and establish a uniform minimum legal age of marriage of 18. During its 2013 Universal Periodic Review, Bangladesh supported recommendations to improve efforts to protect children from forced marriage, and to more effectively implement the Child Marriage Restraint act and the Dowry Prohibition Act. At the 2014 Girl Summit, the government signed a charter committing to end child marriage by 2020.

What is the government doing to address this at the national level? Bangladesh has made it compulsory to present a birth certificate at the time of marriage. Child Marriage Free Unions are movements led by local government and facilitated by Plan Bangladesh with the aim of enforcing existing law more effectively. In February 2017, Parliament adopted the Child Marriage Restraint Act despite widespread concerns over a special provision allowing child marriage in ‘special cases’. The Act does not define what constitutes a special case. There are fears that such a provision will legitimize statutory rape and encourage child marriage. The President signed the bill into law on 11 March 2017. The government has also begun developing, under the leadership of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, a National Action Plan to Eliminate Child Marriage 2015-2021. Progress on adopting and implementing the plan has stalled in the face of backlash against recent regressive legal proposals.

What is the minimum legal framework around marriage? The minimum legal age for marriage in Bangladesh is 18 years for girls and 21 for boys. However, the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017 includes a loophole where a court can allow child marriage in “special cases”. The act does not explicitly define what those “special cases” might be.

Emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable flood-affected people in Kurigram and Jamalpur districts of Bangladesh: Project Contest: Heavy monsoon rain and water from upstream since 9 July triggered flooding in 15 northern, north-eastern and south-eastern districts of Bangladesh. The overall flood situation in Kurigram, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Bogra & Sirajganj districts is expected to deteriorate further, while the situation in Lalmonirhat, Chattogram and Bandarban district may continue improving and the situation in Netrokona, Sunamganj and Sylhet districts may remain stable. All the major rivers are showing rising trend except Surma and Kushiyrara. In all the major rivers Dharla, Brahmaputra, Januma; Teesta and Dudhkumar were flowing above the danger level, inundating chars and low-lying areas on the estuaries of the four rivers and water level is likely to rise even further in the next two days which is leaving over 0.9 million people marooned. People in many areas are facing crisis of pure drinking water as tube-well have been submerged under floodwater; older people, people with disabilities, children and women facing the most difficulty. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Water Development Board, water levels of four rivers significantly increased within last 48 hours. The water level of Brahmaputra at Chilmari point is flowing 128  cm above danger level, Dharla River at the Dharla Bridge point of Sadar upazila is flowing 107 cm above the danger level, Brahmaputra River at Noonkhawa point is flowing 100 cm above the danger level and Januma River at Sirajgong and Jamalpur point is flowing 93 CM above the danger level.The overall flood situation in proposed 2  districts has further deteriorated as new areas are going under water due to the increase of water levels of all the rivers including Brahmaputra, Teesta, Jamuna; Dharala and Dudhkumar. The flood water is entered in road and and homestead- People have  taken shelter in safe place either on on road side or relatives house. The project cover 3,852 households  in 12 unions of 6 upazilas under 2 district. Therefore, the total coverage is (3,872 hh targeted / 102,588 hh affected in 12 unions) = 4 % of affected population.

Enabling Environment for Female Madrasha Students and Repatriated Women including family member of men those who are working abroad to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism:  Project Background: The Association for Integrated Development – Comilla (AID-COMILLA), with support from Democracy International, implemented the Enabling Environment for Female Madrasha Students and Repatriated Women including family member of men those who are working abroad to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism project from May 16, 2018 – December 15, 2018 at Cumilla District. The overall objective of the project was to increase capacity, skills, knowledge, and resources for meaningful participation of Female Madrasha Student including teachers & Repatriated Women including family member of men those who are working abroad in security of Bangladesh in terms of violent extremism. This was achieved through implementation of three interdependent component, which were; (1) 240 female madrasha students (8 Madrashas, 30 students from each madrasha), (2) 24 teachers of Madrasha (03 teachers from each madrasha) and (3) Repatriated Women including family member of men those who are working abroad – 150 women. The project applied a multi-sect oral programmatic approach which brought together Local Administration, civil society organizations, media and grassroots communities. The consortium of these actors brought together complimenting synergies that aimed at empowering targeted communities to resist radical ideologies that promote use of extreme violence as a justifiable means of expression and continue to root institutional cooperation in tacking the complex and multifaceted issues.

Providing Emergency Multipurpose Cash Grants (MCG) and WASH Services to support the most flood-affected people in particular the elderly in Kurigram District in Bangladesh: The project is aimed to provide Multipurpose Cash Grants (MCG) which is enable the most vulnerable flood affected 1,771 households among the flood affected population to meet their immediate basic needs covering the different areas like food, shelter repairing,  health,  livelihood inputs, transports and other non-food items. Additionally, the project has the provision of family hygiene kits for the affected population also.

Project Location & Beneficiary Coverage: District: Kurigram            Upazila: Nageswari & Bhurungamari     Union: Kaliganj & Noonkhaoa Union in Nageswari & Tilai, Pathordubi & Bongosonahat Union in Bhurungamari

Rodent Management for post-harvest loss reduction: Funding support: ARF/NOW/WATRO/ Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research. Project leader: Ms. Rokeya Begum Shafali, Executive Director, Association for Integrated Development-Comilla (AID-COMILLA), Bangladesh,  Consortium Partners: (1) Prof. Steven Belmain, Professor of Ecology, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK (2) Dr. Bastiaan Meerburg, Head of Department, Livestock & Environment, Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek, NL (3) Mr. Farid Ahmed, Managing Director, Modern Rice Milling Unit, Comilla, Bangladesh

Project Summary: Pest rodent cause serious problems for subsistence farmers through loss, damage and contamination of food. This research aims to improve food security, nutrition and health of Bangladesh families by understanding current rodent management practices and developing improved, sustainable technologies and strategies that can reduce the impact of rodent on livelihoods.

Civil Society Participation aiming Combat Anti-Corruption through Education and Awareness:  with funding support from GIZ (German Cooperation) Overall objective: The objective of the proposed project is to educate the general public including student as well as leaders at all levels about the negative impacts of corruption on the society and economy of Bangladesh. Furthermore, the project aims to win public support for legislative reform aimed at effectively preventing corruption. Key strategies: This project would kick off with training, workshop, awareness, motivational activities involving the key stakeholders including the members of the CPC, CPF, Police,  ACC, Integrity Unit, Public Administration, Local Government, NGO workers, Disadvantaged women, Different professionals, Manobadhiker Bastobion Committee and Stop violence against women and children committee/stop family violence committee working in the project area/district.  Working Area and Target groups: This project will be implemented in Comilla City Corporation , 06 Union Parishad of Comilla Sadar Upazila & Laksham Pouroshova, 3 Union Parishad of Laksham Upazila of Comilla District. The target groups of the project are Member of Corruption Prevention Committee (CPC), Integrity Unit, Community Policing Forum (CPF), Union Parishad, Various Committee Member of Stop violence against women /Children, Acid Crime, Domestic Violence etc. , NGO workers, Local natural leader and poor and disadvantaged women.

Chars Livelihoods Programme (CLP): The programme is under implementation at Nageshwari , Bhurungamari and Fulbari Upazila of Kurigram District with funding support from DFID and managed by MAXWELL STAMP Plc, UK. The project covers 1) Group Formation (2) Asset Transfer (Cattle/Goat/Ship/Chicken) to the selected households with productive assets to the value of Tk. 15,000.00 – 17,000.00. (3) Vegetable seed, timber sapling , cattle fodder seed supply and training  (4) Cattle Management Training (5) Feed cost  Taka 250 per month for 18 months (6) Family maintenance stipends @ Taka 350 per month (7) Plinth raise (8) Toilet Installation  (9) Community Fair (10) Exchange visit (11) Village Development Committee formation (13) Couple orientation  ( 14) Value Chain / Enterprise Development Training on Improve Backyard Poultry Rearing with input supply  (16) Value Chain / Enterprise Development Training on commercial fodder production with input supply  (17) Value Chain / Enterprise Development Training on milk marketing with instrument supply  (18) Non Formal Primary Education (19) Primary Health Care and participants receiving medical treatment , medicine , referral service free of cost (20) Village Savings and Loan Project,  participants are member of programme and they are saving Taka 5.00 per week and they can take loan from the programme for one year with no interest.

Justice for All-Rangpur, Kurigram & Dinajpur : This project is under implementation at Rangpur (08 Upazila includes 84 Unions) and Dinajpur (13 Upazila and 102 Union) districts  with funding support and technical assistance from USAID’s Justice for All Program. The overall objective of our project is to provide an environment supporting citizens’ access to legal services and the ability of justice seekers to enforce their legal right through the formal justice system through project activities covering linkages between the DLAC (District Legal Aid Committee), UZLAC (Upazila Legal Aid Committee) and UPLAC (Union Legal Aid Committee).  Legal education campaign will be conducted through awareness campaign, courtyard meeting, orientation session, community radio program broadcast, and street-drama, workshop with judges, lawyers and judicial officers. Legal info materials will be produced with posters, stickers, leaflet, booklet, video documentary and study reports. Community sensitization events will be supported by rallies, human chains, mass petitions, road shows, mass awareness through drama, pot song & theatre shows, drum beating, awareness meeting, video documentary show, and other methods.

BRAC Education Program: This project is under implementation at Narayanpur Union of Nageshwari Upazila under Kurigram District. Total number of students 150 in 05 learning centers.

Training and Resources Development Centre (Comilla) : The Training and Resources Development Centre has been constructed by the financial assistance of the Japan Embassy, Dhaka in the year of 2004-2005. After the construction of the training and resource development centre the following objective has been achieved: (a)Every year AID-COMILLA’s 4000 partner group members / leaders , 500 other stakeholder and 2000 participants of the other NGOs effectively being trained up on poverty alleviation and environmental issue and they are in action  (b)       Partner group members of AID-COMILLA practices Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Rice and vegetable in their cultivation, create gender awareness , initiate vegetable gardening, plants trees, culture fish, make profit and create employment / self employment,  out of micro credit, forms strong micro institution at village level and group federation at union level.

Training and Resources Development Centre (Kurigram) : The Training and Resources Development Centre has been constructed by AID-COMILLA own fund in 2010. After the construction of the training and resource development centre the following objective has been achieved: (a)Every year AID-COMILLA’s 4000 partner group members / leaders , 500 other stakeholder and 2000 participants of the other NGOs effectively being trained up on poverty alleviation and environmental issue and they are in action  (b)                Partner group members of AID-COMILLA practices Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Rice and vegetable in their cultivation, create gender awareness , initiate vegetable gardening, plants trees, culture fish, make profit and create employment / self employment,  out of micro credit, forms strong micro institution at village level and group federation at union level.

Rural Housing: This Program is under implementation at Comilla Sadar Upazila District, Nageshwari, Fulbari and Bhurunghamari Upazila of Kurigram District, where GREHIYAN TOHOBIL OF Bangladesh Bank, is providing finance to meet the expenses of the program, the merits  of this program is to Rehabilitate  and re-settlement of the victims of disasters and/or shelter less is a highest concern of Bangladesh. The broader objective of the project is to provide low cost housing loan to the disaster victims and shelter less ultra poor people.

Rehabilitation program for Disable: This is a project where the organization is implemented at Comilla Sadar Upazila of same District by the financial assistance of Government of Bangladesh. The main objective of the project are: to assist and encourage the targeted handicapped people to continue formal education; to develop their skills on selected trades for making their IGAs profitable; to provide intensive curative health services to all targeted handicapped; to transform the handicapped from non productive to productive resource through IGAs.

Emergency Project:  This project was started on a need basis, for the group members at urban slum area of Comilla District Town. The flood victims of 1998 are the main beneficiaries of this project. The beneficiaries received interest free credit for rehabilitation purpose only. The fund kept as a reserved for future support of the beneficiary group. MISEREOR-Germany provides the fund for the above.

Credit Union Project: The project is under implementation at Comilla Sadar Upazila under Comilla District, Joidevpur Upazila of Gazipur District, Bhurunghamari, Fulbari & Nageshwari Upazila of Kirigram District with the financial assistance from the Rabo Bank Foundation of Netherlands. The project activities cover “Savings and credit, leadership training, accounts training, group dynamics training, profit distribution training, formation of village wise federation, formation of chapter, conduct annual general meeting, skill development of the group leaders etc. During the project period 2500 rural women will be benefited directly.

Combating Acid Violence project: The project is under implementation at Comilla district with the financial assistance from Acid Survivors Foundation. Short term Goal: Knowledge and awareness raising regarding Acid Violence for  women, religious leader, students, political leader, school teacher, media reporter, NGO representative, Government Officials, Police, elected public representative at grass root level through workshop, advocacy, networking, linkage etc. Long term Goal: Level of knowledge, understanding and consciousness about Acid Violence as well as women rights/human rights in the society will be improved towards a just and prosperous society.

Hope for Education, Livelihood and Prosperity (HELP) project: Hope for those who believe in education as their right, not mercy: The project runs in Comilla district and by own fund. Education is not just a fashion. It is neither an opportunity nor a mercy of the rich but a basic right for all human being irrespective of cast, creed, gender, rich or poor, physically disable or living in hard to reach areas. Hope for Education, Livelihood and Prosperity (HELP) project of AID-COMILLA provides education support with all sorts of expenses to about 10 students for continuing their education. Now those have been reading in different classes and are very happy and doing well in their classes and dream for higher education in their future.

Hope for the Poor: Helping Leprosy Patient project: During the year 2005, one Australian tourist found Mr. Abul Kalam Azad, the leprosy affected person, begging on the footpath near Gulshan mosque area. The Australian tourist, Dr. E.D.Burk, found that both legs and fingers of both hands of Mr. Azad to be severely affected by leprosy. Instantly Dr. Buck gave some money to Azad and suggested him to visit Leprosy hospital at Parbotipur under Dinajpur district. Now Mr. BURK send money equivalent to AUD30.00 per month through AID-COMILLA to the account of Azad. AID-COMILLA also helped him to construct a house at his village. A Wheel Chair is also given to Mr. Azad by AID-COMILLA. On every EID-occasion, AID-COMILLA provide his family around BDT 10,000/=. However his physical condition is not improving than before. He has lost both of his legs up to knee joint and the fingers of both hands.

Child & Woman Rights Advocacy Program: This project is under implementation at Akhuara Upazila of Brahmanbaria District funded by UCEP-Bangladesh. The Project Covers 1) Establish Child and Women Resource Center  (2) Consultation with Children and Women (3) Formation of Child Group and Women Group  (4) Formation of Zonal Child & Women Council  (5) Selection for National Child and Women Council  (6) Training for Children and Women  (7)  Community awareness on child & women rights, eve teasing, health & hygiene and sanitation  (8) Conduct dialogue meeting with local government, various stakeholders, potential leaders, police, parents, guardians, employers, community leaders and local media (9) Organize cultural activities (10) Distribution of IEC/BCC Materials (11) Raising awareness on transgender population (12) Liaison , networking and build relation with the potentials organization, govt. and non govt. social and cultural organization (13) Advocacy campaign

Alternative Livelihoods Options (ALO): The programme is under implementation at Parsuram Upazila of Feni District with funding support from SHIREE under DFID Economic Empowerment of the Poorest (EEP) initiative. The project covers Conditional Asset Transfer, beneficiaries training on livelihoods, IGA, Livestock Service Programme, Market Development, Vegetable Gardening, and Paravet Development etc.

Ecological Determination of Bamboo Flowering and Rodent Outbreaks in the CHTs): The programme is under implementation at Ruma Upazila of Bandarbon District  with funding support from Krishi Gobeshona Foundation / World Bank . The project activities covers 1) monthly trapping of rodents in different habitats; 2) Taxonomic identification of specimens captured; 3)  Breeding status of specimens captured; 4) Rodent stomach content analysis in relation to bamboo physiological state; 5) Collection of localized bamboo seed fall timing and relative abundance indices ; 6) Socio-economic assessment of rodent damage to people’s livelihoods before, during, and after rat floods; 7) Evaluation of potential ecologically-based rodent management options to mitigate damage caused by rat floods ; 8) A temporal and spatial analysis of rodent population dynamics in respect to bamboo flowering, fruiting and senescence; 9) A temporal and spatial analysis of habitat utilization of different rodent species in respect to bamboo flowering, fruiting and senescence; 10) Submit at least two scientific manuscripts to the highest level of international peer-reviewed journals on project derived data and analysis; 11) Supervise PhD student and build capacity within Bangladesh institutions on rodent ecology and management

Integrated Development Program: The Program is under implementation at urban area of Comilla Municipality Areas with the financial assistance of MISEREOR. The project covers Gender Equality Training, Combating Domestic Violence, Combating Acid Crime, Legal Rights Education, Skill Training, Awareness Creation etc.

Ecological Rodent Management Training at CHTs: The programme is under implementation at Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarbon District with funding support from UNDP and Australian Government. The project covers ecological rodent management training to 2,000 local leaders of CHTs with special attention  on Rodent Species, Rodent Behaviors and Biology, Nature of Damages (how rodents damage/ symptoms), Rodent Disease, Rodent Control / Management Techniques, Rat Floods Associates with Bamboo Blooms and Flood/Heavy Rainfall. Working Partner SAS, ECO ,ASHIKA and PAJARICO

Rat Management for Rural Communities: The programme is under implementation at Comilla, Bogra, Netrokona, Kustia and Satkhira District with funding support from DFID and managed by NR International UK. The project covers beneficiaries training on Ecologically Based Rodent Management (EBRM Training. The partners are Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of Greenwich University, UK, DAE, BARI, Mukti, ARBAN, LDRO, SHUSHILAN, MAWTS , PromPT and BRMA. AID-COMILLA has been performing as lead organization.

Coordinated Effort to Access to Justice for Vulnerable Groups: The programme is under implementation at Comilla, Kurigram, Feni, Laxmipur and Sunamgonj District with funding support by Delegation of the European Union in Bangladesh. The project covers (i) The formal justice system is efficient in terms of case management and ensures fair treatment for all peoples, (ii) the informal justice system (Alternative Dispute Resolution – ADR) is strengthened and expanded and ensures fair treatment for all peoples, and (iii) disadvantaged people, especially women, adivasi/ethnic minority groups and children have adequate assistance to utilize the justice system and claim redress. The partners are Jano Sheba Kendra (JSK)  , Bangladesh Development Service Centre (BDSC). AID-COMILLA has been performing as lead organization.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Rice: The Program has implemented at Noakhali, Laxmipur and Feni District with the financial assistance of The Royal Danish Embassy (DANIDA), Dhaka and technical assistance from Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).  The main objectives of the project are: to train the farmers on IPM to manage their pest problems in rice fields, without heavily depending on pesticides, and to increase farmers income by reducing production cost in respect of pest management, by growing ail crops,  reduce environmental pollution & improve human health. The following specific objectives have been identified to achieve the main objectives, which may be called 5M: Minimum and safe use of pesticide; Maintain ecological balance; Minimise environmental pollution due to pesticide use; Minimise the cost of crop production, and Maximise the profit.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Rice: The Program has implemented at Comilla District with the financial assistance of The British High Commission, Dhaka, Small Grants Programme and technical assistance from Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).  The main objectives of the project are: to train the farmers on IPM to manage their pest problems in rice fields, without heavily depending on pesticides, and to increase farmers income by reducing production cost in respect of pest management, by growing ail crops,  reduce environmental pollution & improve human health. The following specific objectives have been identified to achieve the main objectives, which may be called 5M: Minimum and safe use of pesticide; Maintain ecological balance; Minimise environmental pollution due to pesticide use; Minimise the cost of crop production, and Maximise the profit.

Aquaculture Development Project: The Program has implemented at Chagolnia and Parsuram Upazila of Feni District with the financial assistance of The Royal Danish Embassy (DANIDA), Dhaka and technical assistance from Department of Fisheries.  Objectives of the project: 1) A strengthened socio-economic position and physical well being of the target group of poor men and women belonging to landless and marginal households, thus enabling them to improve their participation in social and economic development; 2) Enhanced opportunities for productive employment of target group members, and increased aquaculture production in the project area. More then 5,000 fish farmer of these two upazila will be benefited from the project. Component of the project is as follows a) Training and Extension; 2) Socio Economic Development; 3) Savings and Credit.

Livelihood Improvement through Ecology (LITE) Project: The project has implemented at Jagannathpur Union of Comilla Sadar Upazila of Comilla District by the financial assistance from PETRRA (a DFID Project). This is a research project with a theme of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for diversified rice-based cropping systems. The project jointly implemented by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) & AID-COMILLA. Testable Hypotheses: a) certain rice pest problems are associated with particular cropping patterns; b) certain cropping patterns will mitigate particular types of rice pest problems. Scientific objectives: a) to identify pest problems associated with particular cropping patterns; b) to evaluate effective methods for managing pest problems in mixed cropping systems.

Ecologically-based rodent management for diversified rice-based cropping systems: The project has implemented at Jagannathpur Union of Comilla Sadar Upazila of Comilla District by the financial assistance from PETRRA/DFID/IRRI, DFID/CPP/NRI (a DFID Project). This is a research project with a theme of development of technology for resource-poor farm households. The project jointly implemented by Natural Resource Institute, University of Greenwich, UK, CSIRO Rodent Research, Australia, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), University of Dhaka & AID-COMILLA. Key Wards of the Project: Ecologically-based rodent management , rats, ecology, integrated pest management, farmer participatory , knowledge attitude and practice survey, rice pre harvest and post harvest damage, human health.

Child Development: Coordinated Program to Combat Child Trafficking: The project has implemented at  Comilla Sadar Upazila of Comilla District and Akhura Upazila of Brahmanbaria by the financial assistance from Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) in association with Government of Bangladesh. The main objective of the project is to reduce Child Trafficking in Bangladesh and create mass awareness and social mobilization for empowering community as a whole and vulnerable women and children in particular in organizing movements towards reducing child abuse especially child trafficking through concerted efforts of government of Bangladesh, Non Government Organization both local, national and international.

Agricultural Services Innovative and Reform Project: The project has implemented at  Comilla Sadar Upazila and Laksham Upazala of Comilla District  by the financial assistance from Department for International Development (DFID), Government of United Kingdom. The main objective of the project is to encourage the various partners and agencies within the national agriculture extension system to provide efficient and effective services which complement and reinforce each other; in an effort to increase the efficiency and productivity of agriculture in Bangladesh. AID-COMILLA is playing the role of Lead Organization. Other partners are Department of Women Affaires, Government of Bangladesh Comilla, SHRISTI and HOLODIA both are grass root level development organization. Key words of the project: Improvement of Extension Service through Capacity Building of Women Cooperatives Society.

IFADEP-1 (Skill Training) : The Program has implemented at Narshingdhi and Palash Upazila of Narshindhi District by the financial assistance of  IFADEP-1 Sub-project financed by the European Union in association with Department of Women Affaires. The project covers a) Skill Training selection by the VGD women (2 month Course) b) Skill Training on various trade for 15 days each training. During the project period 2,000 VGD Card Holder was benefited.

IFADEP-1: The Program has implemented at Bhurunghamari & Rajarhat Upazila  of Kurigram District by the financial assistance of  IFADEP-1 Sub-project financed by the European Union in association with Department of Women Affaires. The project covers a) Group Formation b) NFPE c) Group savings d) sanitation, primary health care etc.; e) Skill development training on Poultry, Vegetable Gardening, Pickle Making, f) Awareness Creation. During the project period 6,000 VGD Card Holder was benefited.

Development of VGD Card Holder: The Program has implemented at Bhurunghamari , Nagassory, Rawmari, Rajibpur and Fulbaria Upazila  of Kurigram District by the financial assistance of  FSVGD Sub-project financed by the European Union in association with Department of Women Affaires. The project covers a) Group savings b) sanitation, primary health care etc.; c) Skill development training on Poultry, Vegetable Gardening, Pickle Making, d) Awareness Creation. During the project period 13139 VGD Card Holder was benefited.

Pilot Embroidery Project for VGD Card Holder: The Program is under implementation at Bhurunghamari Upazila of Kurigram District. Objectives of the project are (a) to make available a training courses specifically designed to equip trainees with the silk and knowledge necessary to produce embroidery/nakshi kantha products of a quality and style appropriate to the international market (b) to increase the profitability of production in the embroidery sector (c) to enable to set up producer groups or production centers.

CAGE Aquaculture: The Programme is under implementation at Jagannathpur Union of Sadar Upazila of Comilla District by the financial assistance of CARE Under this project total 350 CAGE have been established. Objects of the project are (a) to develop and implement CAGE aquaculture as a new technology in Bangladesh and (b) to acquire and share knowledge about CAGE aquaculture.

BREAD Project: The Program is under implementation at  Jagannathpur Union of Sadar Upazila of Comilla District with a partnership agreement with MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE (MCC) by the financial assistance of WINROCK INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE-USA. Objectives of the project are (a) to increase agriculture production (b) to increase the income of the beneficiary (c) to enhanced awareness on environmental issues.

Integrated Development Program: The Program is under implementation at urban area of Comilla Municipality Area by the financial assistance of MISEREOR. The project covers a) Savings & Credit; b) Gender Equality Training; c) Training to other NGOs on Gender Equality; d) Training to Reporter, Public Representatives on Gender Equality c) Water & Sanitation; d) Primary Health Care; e) Skill Training; f) awareness Creation etc. During the project period about 2100 group member was benefited.