Our work in Bangladesh

Overview

Most of Bangladesh is low-lying, and it is therefore one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the severe impacts of global climate change. 

The main environmental crises come from cyclones, tidal surges, storms, landslides, riverbank erosion and salinity intrusion into the soil. These factors significantly impact crop and vegetable production.

In 2017, hundreds of thousands of people fled violence in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar, into neighbouring Bangladesh in urgent need of food, water, sanitation, shelter, medical aid and trauma care.

Our work

Tearfund began operating in Bangladesh in 1973 in response to a cyclone that caused widespread devastation. Our work has since broadened to help alleviate poverty through environmental and economic sustainability.

Our focus is on targeting climate change, vulnerable individuals and hard-to-reach poverty stricken areas. We work in a large number of districts, but will respond to emergencies anywhere in the country, in partnership with other groups.

Long-term development projects are increasingly focused on mobilising the church to respond to climate change as well as disaster risk reduction.

In addition to improving health and education facilities in communities across the country, our work has included tree planting, rainwater harvesting, water and sanitation improvement at cyclone shelters, and setting up small-scale community savings (microfinance) groups.

Our impact

• 156,000 lives have been assisted through Tearfund’s work with partner groups in Bangladesh since 2010.
• 5,246 people have received emergency supplies following prolonged flooding.
• 12 children with disabilities have received social ‘safety net’ grants from the government thanks to our advocacy work.