Bangladesh is in southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India. With a population of 164.4 million, it is one of the most densely-populated countries in the world. The country’s geography means that it is prone to flooding and cyclones, and the effects of climate change are expected to have a particularly severe impact on vulnerable communities.
“Bangladesh made significant progress towards improving its children’s health, education and welfare last year but much remains to be done. Plan is working with children and families in some of the poorest areas to ensure children have the chance to grow up healthy and educated, with opportunities for the future.”
Myrna Evora, Country Director, Plan Bangladesh
Half of the population live on less than 79p a day. Plan works in seven of the poorest areas, helping children and families to find solutions to the problems they face and lobby for better health, education and community services.
We aim to protect vulnerable children by ensuring primary schools are safe, stimulating places to learn, working to reduce domestic violence, early and forced marriage and child abuse, and improving the lives of street children.
We also focus on community healthcare, from making sure families have access to good quality services to helping women increase their incomes and farmers their yields so they can give their children regular, nutritious meals.
Our work on primary education includes raising standards, which encourages children – particularly girls – to stay to their final year, improving sanitation in schools and making sure children are taught about hygiene.
We work to help families reduce the impact of disasters on their communities – ensuring government and community organisations are prepared and know how to respond to earthquakes, floods and cyclones.
Recent highlights of Plan’s work:
- Supported the government in Bangladesh to complete the online birth registration of more than 20 million people, including children, ensuring they have a legal identity
- Promoted services to provided care and early education to more than 44,000 very young children
- Provided 900 farmers with training on how to grow vegetables and improve their families’ diets.