It is with the heaviest of hearts that we have to inform you of the passing of BRAC’s founder, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. No words of consolation can take away the pain of losing him. We will honour his legacy with the same resilience, dignity and humility that he has instilled in us.
Approximately 3 million people are impacted by flash floods across eastern Bangladesh.
Huge swathes of land in eight districts across Chattogram Division and Sylhet Division are underwater, with Moulvibazar being one of the worst impacted districts. BRAC staff members are on
We congratulate Kuldeep Aryal of BRAC Social Innovation Lab on being selected for
@Ethereum
Foundation Fellowship Programme. He will be developing a blockchain strategy for BRAC and piloting Ethereum blockchain-based solutions in the organisation.
#blockchainforgood
#ethereum
Children in Bangladesh are among the world’s most vulnerable in the face of climate change. A new piece by
@sarallana
in
@csmonitor
featuring
@asifsaleh
explores how they’re adapting to the climate crisis.
@pulitzercenter
People living the climate crisis are trying their best to adapt but there’s only so much they can do with so few resources. Join BRAC's ED
@asifsaleh
as he returns to Bangladesh’s coast to meet people who have contributed the least but are paying the most.
Farmers call it fire dust, because it burns the soil like fire. What is fire dust, how is it destroying the crops in southwestern Bangladesh, and what are farmers doing to tackle it? Read Ashim’s story, a farmer from Bangladesh. Out now on The Good Feed:
(1/2) Have your uterus removed, or eventually die. That’s the situation for many women living on the frontline of the climate crisis. Read Rini’s story, a fisher from BD to know what’s causing this - and why it is a concern for the world.
We are deeply saddened to share the loss of Dr Saleemul Huq, a pioneer and titan for global climate justice, fierce promoter of knowledge from the global south and tireless advocate for people on the frontlines of the climate crisis. BRAC will do all we can to honour his legacy.
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of BRAC, is retiring from his role as the Chairperson of the Governing Body of BRAC Bangladesh and BRAC International. He is transitioning to the role of Chair Emeritus, effective August 2019.
Read more:
"I don't even remember the day my family returned to Bangladesh from Myanmar because I was very young at that time. My parents told me that they had to flee here seven years ago because of the persecution by the Myanmar government. Now that I am older, I am studying in Grade IV
Bangladesh is calling. At least 3 million people across 8 districts are impacted by flash floods. BRAC is on the ground supporting those who need it the most. Every bit of your support matters right now. Please donate.
For bKash payment (within Bangladesh): 01730-321765 (use
Thank you
@NickKristof
. We remain fully committed to the right of girls and young women to access education, and to providing continued support to engaging communities in sustaining access to schooling for their children.
For those who want to help Afghanistan, consider
@BRACworld
, a Bangladeshi organization that has experience in Afghanistan educating girls and empowering communities. Coming from a Muslim country, BRAC is able to coexist with the Taliban better than many NGOs. It does great work.
Empty streets mean empty stomachs. We will support 100,000 low-income families in Bangladesh, but the need is far greater. Please come forward. We take the responsibility of delivering your support to the people. It's time to make empathy go viral. Donate:
In a world as big as ours, there must be
#SpaceOnEarth
for the
#Rohingya
. But over half a million Rohingya children are still living in refugee camps in
#CoxsBazar
. Here is their message for you:
Donate:
Full video:
Children in
#Rohingya
camps are one step closer to accessing formal education. 40,000 BRAC school students received over 179,000 textbooks on the Myanmar National Curriculum, under the Bangladesh government’s initiative in partnership with UNICEF and UNHCR.
@UNICEFBD
@UNHCR_BGD
We have started the production of standardised masks as part of our extensive campaign to fight COVID-19. We also stand beside our health professionals at this hour of need, starting with the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) soon. Read:
Abed Bhai used to say, when people have the opportunity to realise their potential, a light of hope gets switched on.
Thank you for standing with us, through half a century of getting up & trying. We are not just dreaming of a better world, we are building it.
#BRACturns50
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the Founder and Chair Emeritus of
@BRACworld
accepted the insignia of the Royal Knighthood bestowed upon him by H. E. Harry Verweij, Dutch Ambassador to
#Bangladesh
, on behalf of His Majesty King Willem Alexander of The
#Netherlands
.
The worst
#flood
in decades has hit
#Sylhet
and other localities in
#Bangladesh
. BRAC on ground with shelter, food and rescue services. People+cattle stranded on rooftops. Schools, businesses+houses inundated. Electricity+transport disrupted.
#sylhetflood
Our highest priority, as an organisation, is to keep our colleagues and our community safe - so that they have the best chance of being able to keep us all safe.
Here are 6 steps we are taking to protect them:
For Independence Day, BRAC's frontline staff were protecting
#Bangladesh
. 50,000 of BRAC’s health workers went door-to-door to 1.2 million homes in rural villages and urban slums, reaching 4.7 million people so far with crucial information about
#COVID19
.
@dfat
@DFID_UK
Hand washing saves lives. Public hygiene facilities can help us fight the spread of
#COVID19
. BRAC Urban Development Programme partnered with city corporations to install 41 hand washing stations at ward levels of 12 districts in Bangladesh.
@DFID_UK
@dfat
Trained volunteers are sharing warning messages in the
#Rohingya
camps in their native dialect, using sirens and megaphones, urging everyone to move to safe locations as
#CycloneMocha
approaches
#Bangladesh
.
Dr. Erum Marium, Director of BRAC Institute of Educational Development, explains how our new partnership with
@LEGOfoundation
,
@SesameWorkshop
,
@theIRC
, &
@NYUGlobalTIES
will expand playful learning opportunities for children affected by the Rohingya crisis.
“CYCLONE COMING! CYCLONE COMING!”
All hands on deck as
#Bangladesh
braces for
#CycloneMocha
. Tidal surges of 2m are likely to wash away coastal villages, submerge islands and put the world's largest refugee camp at risk. BRAC is on the ground and scaling up its response.
The
#monsoon
#rain
and swelling of Bangladesh’s
#rivers
has left 26 unions
#inundated
. As
#water
rises and recedes, people are leaving, many without homes, land or crops. BRAC is closely monitoring the situation and is on the ground ready to support the most vulnerable.
We mourn deeply the loss of Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury, the first Vice-Chancellor of
@BRACUniversity
. Prof Choudhury passed away in the early hours of 28 April 2020. A renowned scholar, Prof Choudhury is widely recognised for his immeasurable service.
More than 5,000 Rohingya refugees, comprising 800 families, were displaced, and 841 shelters were fully or partially damaged by a devastating fire that swept across Block A, B, C, and D of Camp 5 at 1 am today, 7 January 2024.
BRAC is on the ground to provide emergency support
Investing in girls and women is at the heart of BRAC’s work. On this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, let’s pledge to end child marriage and bring our girls back to school.
#DayOfTheGirl
@dfat
@GAC_Corporate
"I have spent my life watching optimism triumph over despair when the light of self-belief is sparked in people. As a team, I want us to keep lighting these sparks"- Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder, BRAC. We promise to rise to that responsibility in 2020 and beyond. Happy New Year!
Heard on stage during Abhijit Banerjee's
@NobelPrize
seminar: "
#BRAC
is one of the great NGO's of the world..." Well we think you and your transformational team at
@poverty_action
are great too! Keep up the amazing, inspirational work. Full video:
“On this 50th anniversary, let us celebrate what BRAC has achieved, and may it continue to flourish.” - George Soros, Founder, Open Society Foundations.
50 years of igniting hope, from Bangladesh to the world.
#BRACturns50
@georgesoros
@OpenSociety
Meet Noor and Aziz – 6-year-old Rohingya Muppets who live in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. Together with our partners at
@SesameWorkshop
, BRAC is working to bring new playful learning content featuring Noor and Aziz to refugee children in Bangladesh.
#AmphanSuperCyclone
hit
#Bangladesh
’s yesterday, with tidal surges of up to nine feet. 5,850 people are in BRAC's cyclone shelters. BRAC is making an immediate allocation for emergency support from its own fund and will plan its relief, recovery and rehabilitation effort.
With the passing of Kamla Bhasin,
#feminist
activist,
#socialscientist
& long-time friend of
#BRAC
, we reflect on her vision, & the world she believed was possible. Kamla di’s vision remains incomplete, but we promise to continue the fight.
#KamlaBhasin
The year-wise dropout rate for both boys and girls decreased from 47% in 2005 to 19% in 2017, and there are now more girls than boys in
#schools
. This year marks 50 years of
#Bangladesh
's independence. BRAC is proud to be part of Bangladesh's journey.
#BangladeshAt50
#education
Many are suffering as Bangladesh enters its 3rd week of economic shutdown in response to
#COVID19
.
@BRACworld
will now support 200,000 targeted families living on low incomes. Read the latest about
#Bangladesh
and our response to COVID-19 from
@asifsaleh
"Development is not something we can give. It’s something people must take. Even the poorest person has inherent potential and can solve their own problems"
@Shameran
at
#ReshapingDevelopment
conversation
@WorldBank
We launched a map of
#urbanslums
in
#Bangladesh
for individuals & organisations to coordinate relief efforts & avoid duplications in helping families who lost livelihoods due to
#COVID19
. See the map:
Over 25 million people in Bangladesh have lifted themselves out of poverty in the last 15 years. This year marks 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence. BRAC is proud to be part of Bangladesh's journey.
#BangladeshAt50
For
#Bangladesh
,
#COVID19
is more than a public health crisis.
#Clientprotection
is key in supporting people through financial shocks & by sharing reliable, life-saving information. How is BRAC’s
#microfinance
programme responding? Read:
1,638
#sanitisers
are being distributed to protect day-labourers, rickshaw pullers and street vendors from
#COVID19
in
#Dhaka
who can’t afford to stay home during the crisis. Sanitisers were produced by
@BRACUniversity
and packaged by BRAC’s skills development team.
“Real human capital initiatives must activate people’s sense of self-worth.” Why we must invest in the science of hope in order to
#EndPoverty
, via
@BRACworld
founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed 👉🏾
Did you know that the majority of our budget in Bangladesh is self-funded by our social enterprises? Donella Rapier, BRAC USA President & CEO, speaks on social enterprise in a new interview with
@HarvardHBS
Social Enterprise Initiative:
82% of people with disabilities live on less than a dollar a day. We're teaming up with
@HI_UK
to improve this and ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in our development programmes.
#NowIsTheTime
#DisabilitySummit
Many unsung
#heroes
are performing duties on the frontline this
#Eid
in
#Bangladesh
instead of spending it with loved ones. We created a gallery with children's drawings, thanking these heroes for their relentless service. Visit:
In partnership with
@dfat
BRAC recruited 20
#doctors
to support IEDCR’s 24/7 hotline, who answered over 8000 calls last week. Are you a doctor who speaks Bangla? You can help by registering at to assist the Government of
#Bangladesh
.
We brought paint & started drawing circles to encourage
#socialdistancing
in public spaces. We covered 229 pharmacies & 1000 grocery stores in 2 days. BRAC is replicating it across
#Bangladesh
- Mahfuzur, one of BRAC’s 100K frontline staff fighting
#COVID19
“The need to combat
#ExtremePoverty
and drive systemic change has never been more urgent, especially with the devastating impact COVID-19 will have on the poorest and most marginalized.” -
@Shameran
Abed, Senior Director of BRAC Microfinance and Ultra-Poor Graduation programs
#Bangladesh
’s teachers are on TV! The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education &
@a2i
are airing lessons on TV while
#schools
are closed for
#COVID19
. BRAC & others are designing content & lesson plans, with subject trainers assisting from our
#education
programme.
BRAC congratulates the 2018 Heroines of Health, Professor Sabina Faiz Rashid and Professor Malabika Sarker, who are being honoured this year at the World Health Assembly for their work with vulnerable populations in Bangladesh!
Thank you
@ADB_HQ
for such a touching and in-depth tribute to our Abed bhai. His pioneering and generous spirit will continue on with the next generation of changemakers.
Bangladesh is suffering from exponential growth in COVID-19 cases as it confirms full community transmission. In addition, it faces an economic crisis. BRAC presents eight prominent risks and challenges facing Bangladesh this week:
Through our skills program, Sumia trained as an air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic with a master craftsperson. Now, as the primary breadwinner of her family, Sumia is ensuring her siblings finish their educations.
#wysd2019
#investinskills