Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia paid a three-day state visit to India starting on 20 March 2006. The visit was expressively hailed for an intensive and useful exchange of views on a wide range of issues, including terrorism, trade, illegal migration, border security, water sharing and the confidence building measures between the two countries. Two pacts – a revised trade accord and to prevent illicit narcotics trafficking – were signed. The two sides agreed to hold more frequent meetings of bilateral mechanisms like the joint economic commission, the joint boundary working groups, the joint rivers commission and the home secretary level talks to ensure movement in a positive direction.

Joypurhat based Potato starch factory Flamingo Agro-Tech Limited is set to start exporting to Thailand and Australia, 175 metric tons of food grade potato starch in the first phase in the first half of 2006. This company has embarked on a potato-farming scheme on 400 acres of land. Managing Director of the company hoped to earn about 7.5 million US dollars this year.

The International Monetary fund (IMF) Executive Board has approved the fifth installment of the Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) and Trade Integration Mechanism (TIM) loan totaling USD 97.2 million for Bangladesh.

Export earning reached USD 5.8 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, showing a 16.92 percent growth due to good performance by knitwear, leather, frozen foods, and textile fabrics, according to Export Promotion Bureau statistics.

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) have recovered 50 acres of land illegally occupied by Indians in Ramgarh border in Khagrachhari district. Survey was carried out and pillars were erected for demarcation of the area.

As a result of Bangladesh’s reluctance to join plan of Asian Highways (the road networks) the experts opined that the country likely to miss the chance to exploit financial benefits from the road network. This might discourage foreign investment, due to lack of connections with other countries The Asian Highways aimed at road communication for easy transportation of goods and people. 27 of 32 countries have already signed the agreement but Bangladesh declined to join the network. The deadline for joining the network was December 2005.

Bangladesh experienced a long spell of drought all over the country and consequently the underground water label fell. Due to fuel crises, thousands of irrigation pumps remained idle creating negative impact on Boro (paddy) farming. Farmers were failing to plant in the peak of the Boro season. Apart from this lack of fertilizer has further worsened the agriculture production process. Power failure cost heavy loss to mills and industries. Poor planning, theft and demurrage are blamed for perennial energy crisis.

After a long absence, the Opposition Party The Awami League joined Parliament on 12 February 2006 with a set of proposals for reforms in the caretaker government and electoral systems for free and fair election. A 10-member committee would be formed soon with equal number from both Government and opposition for meaningful discussion and solution of the matter.

The government has cracked down on militants of Jamatul Mojahedin Bangladesh (JMB). Its Chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman, who terrorized the country with his ruthless squad of bombers, surrendered on 2 March 2006 to the Rapid Action Battalion in Sylhet. His second-in-command, Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai was arrested on 6 March 2006 from Mymensingh District. With the arrest of top two leaders and a good number of JMB members, the nation has breathed a sigh of relief from a sense of insecurity.

In the absence of any long-term government schemes to prevent riverbank erosions, the country’s large rivers like Brahmaputra-Jamuna, Padma and lower Meghna annually devour huge amount of land, wash away properties, leave thousands of people landless and millions of others to similar risks each year. Official statistics show that around 8,700 hectares of land are eroded every year along the 2,400 km banks on both sides of the rivers, commented by Mainul Haque Sarkar, a morphologist and other experts at the Centre for Environment and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS).

Survey Reports revealed that the country is sinking fast into HIV quicksand. 7.1 percent Injecting drug users have HIV positive; many of them are professional blood donors. It’s high time to act and prevent epidemic, the experts suggested. It was further reported that 50% adult people of the country carry tuberculosis (TB) bacteria, and about 70,000 die every year from TB.

Filaria is outspreading fast as experts found this year the disease in 39 districts whereas 10 years back the disease was detected in 9 districts only. About 500 million people in the country are vulnerable to this debilitating disease, transmitted by mosquito. Of the 39 districts, Nilphamari, Thakurgaon, Panchgarh, Dinajpur and Lalmonirhat Districts in the RDRS working area are high-prevalence districts. The government has taken an initiative to eliminate faliria with support from Japan.

Bangladesh UNESCO: RDRS has submitted two Project Proposals to Bangladesh UNSECO National Commission and the Government of Bangladesh Ministry of Education on Women Leadership Development on Reducing Domestic Violence Against Women respectively in two Districts of Northwest Bangladesh.

The main objective of the projects is to work towards the elimination of domestic violence and improve the women’s leadership for the protection in northwest Bangladesh, and to provide life-based skills training to adolescent to improve their lives.

Nutrition education: RDRS has been implementing a Nutrition Education project with support from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in 3 Districts Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Panchagarh. The project is covering 3,355 schools (GoB 2,371 and NGO 984) and 572, 563 students. RDRS has extended its contract with WFP for one more year until December 2006.

Food Security Vulnerable Group Development: RDRS has signed a Contract with Ministry of Women and children Affairs, EC/WP for 3 upazilas in Lalmonirhat District. Under this project RDRS cover 8,311 vulnerable women cardholders. The main objectives of the project are to provide awareness training, skills training (based on needs) and group development training. The prgramme participants for the project will be supported for a year and than all of them will be the members of RDRS’ supported Groups.

Farmers Field Schools: Farmers Field Schools (FFS) have been an effective and alternative approach for livelihoods improvement of the farmers’ households. With the aim of supporting to wider community through FFS, RDRS established 1,920 involving 22 local NGOs. A total of 110 staff member from 22 NGOs have been trained on viable technology, income generation and skills developed. 1,920 Farmers promoters also trained on skills development.

Addressing Monga (lean season): To address the Monga and unemployment during September – November, RDRS in collaboration with Research Initiative Bangladesh (RIB) and TMSS organised a 2-day long workshop in Rangpur. About 43 participants from 18 organisations attended the workshop with the aim to identify common/united strategy to address the Monga and reduce the vulnerability of the poor.

Microfinance: A 2-day Strategy Planning meeting was organised in RDRS Dhaka office during 19 -20 February 2006. A total of 14 staff members from microfianance programme attended the planning meeting. Director, Microfinance presented the 5-year strategy while Mr. Mirza Nazmul Huq from Palli Karma Shahak Foundation (PKSF) -lending agency from where NGOs can borrow for their revolving fund facilited the Strategy Planning meeting.

Microfiannce programme organised 2 workshops at Kurigram and Panchagarh on 11 and 25 February respectively. About 900 Microfianance organizers, Assistant Manager and Branch Manger participated the workshop. The main objective of the workshop was to share/exchange good lessons learnt from the programme activities. The microfinance programme’s achievement and challenges also discussed in the workshop.

Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF) organised Micro credit Fair during 4-5 February 2006 in Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka to encourage the orgnisation involving in microfinance activities. The Fair inaugurated by Dr. Mohammad Younus. RDRS along with other 43 organisations participated in Khudra Rin Mela (Microcredit fair).

Federations: Under the Federation Capacity Building Project, Federations and social welfare organizations were supported for Annual Planning meeting during 15 February- 4 March 2006. The meeting was attended by programme Manager, Social Empowerment, Chairperson of Union Parishad (lowest tier of government Administration) and Federation executive Committee members.

Women’s Rights Coordination (WRC) Unit: WRC unit staff and other staff members of RDRS attended a day-long workshop organised by the District Judge on Legal Aid Fund Utilisation. The main objective of the workshop was to create awareness about the Government’ Legal Aid Funds available at district level and its proper utilization to assert justice for the poor. The District judge also advised government officials to ensure greater coordination and cooperation.

The meeting of the District Women’s Forum was also held with participation of Director, Community health, WRU Coordinator and Women’s Rights Officers and other female staff. The meetings basically discussed on working modality of women’s forum and its strengthen.

Manusher Jannay Project: To ensure child rights for quality education, RDRS is implementing a project titled Civic Education. To improve the education quality, create environment for quality education, reduce drop-out and develop children RDRS has taken initiative to organise different program at primary schools. Under this imitative to check basic skills of children, a day-long programme was organised in Dimla Upazila, Nilphamari District on 20 February. Mr. Mohammad Mehbaul Alam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer was present as chief guest and distributed prizes among the children.

SUCCEED: RDRS has been implementing a project titled SUCCEED with Save the Children USA to improve the performance of early childhood and education in primary level through innovative learning model. The main objective of the project is to provide education, equity, and technical assistance in the area of disability, gender and ethnicity. During this quarter, network building and communication developed with professional forum at Districts level to support disabled children through Dhaka Shishu (child) hospital, indeginous education forum.

The SUCCEED team developed and published a Education Equity Directory with focus on disability, Ethnicity and gender and information on training opportunities, service facilities and research information of selected organizations. RDRS in collaboration with Save the Children USA and with funding support from USAID orgnaised a National Launching Ceremony of the Directory on 7 March 2006 at BRAC Centre Inn. Mr Qazi Monowarul Hoq, Secretary - Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh was present as the Chief Guest of the occasion.

3. Relation with local partner

International Women’s day: Local partners and RDRS observed International Women’s Day on 8 March in its working area through organizing different programmes such as holding rallies, mass gathering with department of women and children affairs and other NGOs. A special leaflet was produced and widely distributed.

On 8 March 2006 Union Federations observed the International Women’s Day. The main objective was to groom the women with strong sense of togetherness, empowerment and leadership, stand together against violence against women. It demonstrated an apt enthusiasm among the women participation. Discussion also focused the quality of life of women and women’s empowerment. To mark the day, there held Rallies, discussions, recitations of poems, etc. This gathering also linked other women, created inspiration to face challenges boldly and work together for their empowerment in economic activities. 1,300 rural women leaders were awarded for their dedication and service for promotion of women’ welfare.

Other important national days including 21 February International Language Day and 26 March Independence Day were also observed by RDRS throughout its working area.

At National level RDRS celebrated the 21 February internal language day and 26 March Independence Day with the Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB). With other NGO members RDRS staff participated in the morning rallies.

Sanitation: To ensure 100 percent sanitation, RDRS Domer office of Nilphamari district distributed sanitary slab among 115 poor people on 22 February 2006. Upa nirbahai Officer Mr. Munizzaman attended as chief guest and he distributed the sanitary slabs. He also high lighted the utilisation of slabs and welcomed and thanked RDRS in its initiative in this respect.

World TB Day: In collaboration with District Health Department, RDRS chalked out different programme to celebrate World TB day on 23 March 2006. Represntative from different organisations and students from schools and college participated the programme.

World Leprosy Day: RDRS has been working in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts to eliminate leprosy since 1980. In 2002 Kurigram district has been declared as leprosy free district. RDRS celebrated World Leprosy day on 29 January 2006. The theme this year was “lets work together and make Leprosy free country”

Training/Orientation on Earth Quake: A group of 20 staff member attended 7 days workshop on Empowering Societies to Mitigate Effects of Earthquake in Kalimpong, India, during 1-8 March 2006. The workshop attempted to raise awareness and knowledge of participants to mitigate the loss of life, property and infrastructure due to earthquakes.

4. North Bengal Institute (NBI)
Foundation Course on Rural Development (FCRD):
In this quarter, The 6th batch of FCRD was successfully completed and 21 post-graduate women got their certificates. NBI assisted the HR section in interviewing women for recruitment in RDRS. Selection process for 7th FCRD batch is going on and already 68-interview cards have been issued.

Research Awards:
During this quarter 4 researchers (1 female) have started their research study in Social field. The title of the research study is as follows:

Attitude towards service as a profession of post graduated women of North Bengal.
Empowerment of Santals of Dinajpur district: Problem and prospects.
The role of Uttara EPZ reducing the regional inequality and previews on its present situation and
Problem and scope of industrial growth at Rangpur district.

Apart from this 3 researchers completed their studies on Adoption of Pashu Posti in community farming, Adoption of healthy seed technology by the Farmers Field  Schools and non-FFS farmers and Perception of farmers about causes and remedies of monga in Kurigram district.

Begum Rokeya Forum Activities: As part of its regular activities, Begum Rokeya Forum organised four meetings, three General committee meetings and one Executive committee meeting. Begum Rokeya Forum observed the International Women’s Day and Independence Day. The Forum facilitated educational and cultural events in four schools at Rangpur.

Interns:
Jason Schweiger from UK is doing his Internship program in North Bengal Institute (NBI) in Social Development field.

Training in basic GIS and GPS: NBI organized a 10-day training on `Basic Course on Arc view GIS and GPS’ facilitated by Professor Dr. Mohd Shamsul Alam and Professor Dr.Md. Shahedur Rashid. A total 18 participants (4 female) from different sectokr of RDRS attended the training.

5. Executive Director’s visit: Mr Kamaluddin Akbar attended a Development Organisation Conference sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank during 24-27 March 2006 in Bangkok.

6. Visitors

Visitors to RDRS Bangladesh during January – March 2006 were as follows: