Our work in Bangladesh

Bangladesh takes enormous pride in its rich cultural heritage, creativity and resilience in the face of challenges – both natural and man-made.

Bangladesh won its independence from Pakistan in 1971. Today, the next generation of leaders are working to free the nation from hunger and poverty, carrying forward the commitment to a prosperous and equitable future. 

Bangladesh is an inspiring source of development innovation, from the success of the Grameen Bank, to progress in child survival and family planning, to the growth of very large-scale local NGOs and low-cost solutions. It is currently providing shelter to nearly one million Rohingya fleeing genocidal violence in neighboring Myanmar.  

Focus issues in Bangladesh

Poverty

Rural poverty in Bangladesh is a pressing issue, leaving millions unable to afford basic resources. While urban areas are seeing increased economic opportunities, the divide between urban and rural communities is visible. 

Extreme poverty prevents people from accessing essential services, including education, healthcare and safe housing.  The cycle of poverty can be addressed by sustained efforts to build infrastructure, enhance economic opportunities and support vulnerable communities.

Economic inequality

Economic inequality in Bangladesh is experienced in both urban and rural communities. This has led to an uneven distribution of resources and opportunities across the country. While rapid urbanization has encouraged economic growth, the benefits are often concentrated among the wealthier population, creating a noticeable gap between socioeconomic classes.

Agricultural challenges  

The rural regions of Bangladesh mainly rely on small-scale agriculture, but face challenges due to lack of financial services, market volatility and the absence of modern farming techniques. 

The impacts of climate change have been detrimental to agriculture in Bangladesh. Extreme weather – including flooding and heat waves – and increased soil salinity due to rising seawater is damaging crop yields for many small-scale farmers throughout the country. 

Gender inequality

Gender inequality in Bangladesh is a significant challenge in rural and urban areas. Women face numerous obstacles that limit access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities equally. This has been influenced by traditional gender roles, early marriage and limited access to financial resources, hindering them from getting the support they need.

Hunger and malnutrition

Despite Bangladesh’s economic strides, hunger and malnutrition affect millions, particularly in rural and economically disadvantaged regions. 

Food insecurity is exacerbated by frequent flooding, soil degradation and limited agricultural resources, leading to low crop yields and food scarcity. Rising food prices also make it difficult for many families to afford nutritious food, which contributes to malnutrition.

Efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition focus on improving food security by supporting local farmers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and increasing access to affordable, nutrient-rich food for vulnerable communities. 

Scarcity of clean water

People living in the rural areas and regions prone to natural disasters have limited access to clean water. Water issues in Bangladesh originate from contamination, pollution and the overuse of water resources, which impact daily routines, public health and overall quality of life. 

Flooding and rising sea levels threaten freshwater supplies, making clean drinking water scarce in some areas. To address water issues, it is crucial to improve water management, create infrastructure for safe drinking water, and implement environmental programs to protect water resources.

Quick facts about Bangladesh

• The population of Bangladesh is over 160 million, making it one of the world’s most densely populated countries.
• Bangladesh’s language is primarily Bengali, which is spoken by the majority of the population.
• Bangladesh’s people are known for their resilience, cultural heritage and commitment to community.
• The capital city of Bangladesh is Dhaka.
• The garment industry makes up more than 80% of Bangladesh’s exports.
• Over 40% of the workforce is employed in agriculture, producing rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugar cane and potatoes. (Asian Development Bank)
• Bangladesh was founded on democratic principles and respects religious minorities within its majority Muslim population.

Poverty and hunger statistics

• Approximately 18.7% of Bangladesh’s population lived below the national poverty line in 2022, marking a considerable drop from 48.9% in 2000. (UN Special Rapperteur, Extreme Poverty & Human Rights)
• Despite the significant improvement, there are fears that a category of “new poor” living just above the poverty line are still at high risk. (UN Special Rapperteur, Extreme Poverty & Human Rights)

• Bangladesh ranks 84th out of 127 countries in the 2024 Global Hunger Index, indicating a “moderate” level of hunger.

• 28% of children under five show restricted development. (Global Nutrition Report)
• 36.7% of women of reproductive age suffer from anemia due to pervasive nutritional deficiencies. (Global Nutrition Report)

How we partner with communities in Bangladesh

THP-Bangladesh was initially established in 1990 by university students who mobilized Youth Ending Hunger (YEH) groups to advocate for the 1990 World Summit for Children and serve as first responders during the 1991 cyclone. Today,  youth mobilization is still a major thrust of our work with more than 100,000 YEH active members at any given time. 

Under the leadership of Professor Badiul Alam Majumdar, The Hunger Project evolved into the largest volunteer-based development organization in the country. We implement a gender-focused, community-led approach to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in more than 160 village clusters (“unions”). The strategy builds grassroots civil society from the bottom up by establishing a partnership between civil society, elected representatives and government service providers. 

THP-Bangladesh was also our first program to successfully attract and implement funding partnerships with major international donors such as UN agencies, the World Bank and bilaterals from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the U.S. and U.K.

Key initiatives for self-reliance & sustainable development

• Vision, Commitment and Action Workshops, our signature training for mobilizing communities has fostered over 150,000 volunteer leaders.
• The National Girl Child Advocacy Forum, which comprises 200+ organizations, implements National Girl Child Day and other initiatives to advance girls’ equal rights throughout the year.
• SHUUJAN – Citizens for Good Governance, which brings together respected individuals in every district of the country to work for non-partisan reforms.
• Unleashed Women’s Network, which trains 12,000+ women leaders on gender issues, is uniquely equipped to engage with conservative rural households in sensitive discussions to keep girls in school and prevent child marriage.
• People’s Researchers run a program organizing the “ultrapoor” in rural communities into self-help groups trained in Participatory Action Research (PAR) which analyze and create solutions to overcome poverty.
• Peace Facilitators, located in each of Bangladesh’s 50+ sub-districts, are volunteers with developed skills to detect, prevent and mitigate incidents of religious intolerance or politically motivated violence.
• Maternal and Infant Nutrition Program where we are working to train community leaders to combat malnutrition and improve water and sanitation to ensure better health and nutrient absorption.