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RDRS Annual General Meeting 2022 Held

Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2022 was held on 28 November 2022 at Rokeya Auditorium in RDRS Rangpur office. The members of RDRS General Body took part in the AGM. Shib Narayan Kairy, the Chair of the General Body presided over the meeting while Executive Director of RDRS Bangladesh Tapan Kumar Karmaker hosted the event. Before the AGM, RDRS Trustee Board meeting was also held on the same day.

The agenda focused on discussion of RDRS' new strategy, future direction, and way of adapting to the new global context in terms of economic, political and development issues.

The Board Members also met with RDRS Senior Staff and discussed different issues/programmes for adaptation on the new context to continue organisational growth.

আরডিআরএস বাংলাদেশ ও মুসলিম এইড-ইউকে বাংলাদেশ-এর উদ্যোগে শীতকালীন প্যাকেজ বিতরণ

আরডিআরএস বাংলাদেশ ও মুসলিম এইড-ইউকে বাংলাদেশ-এর যৌথ সহযোগিতায় শীতার্ত মানুষের মাঝে শীতকালীন প্যাকেজ বিতরণ করা হলো। আরডিআরএস কর্মএলাকার রংপুর, লালমনিরহাট, দিনাজপুর ও পঞ্চগড় এবং সিলেটের মৌলভীবাজার এলাকার শীতার্ত মানুষের মাঝে এসব প্যাকেজ বিতরণ করা হয়। বিতরণের পূর্বে সংশ্লিষ্ট এলাকাগুলোতে উপজেলা নির্বাহী অফিসার ও ইউপি চেয়ারম্যান-মেম্বারদের সহযোগিতায় প্রকৃত শীতার্ত-অসহায় মানুষের তালিকা প্রণয়ন করা হয়। তালিকা মোতাবেক সবাইকে একত্রিত করে, চেয়ারে বসিয়ে আনুষ্ঠানিকভাবে তাদের নিজ নিজ চেয়ারে প্রত্যেকের হাতে প্যাকেটটি তুলে দেওয়া হয়। প্রতিটি প্যাকেটে একটি কম্বল, একজোড়া মোজা, একটি উলেন মাঙ্কি টুপি, সামগ্রী বহনের একটি ব্যাগ ও একটি করে ভ্যাসলিনের কৌটা ছিল।
লালমনিরহাটের আদিতমারী উপজেলায় ৫৫০ টি পরিবারে মাঝে শীতকালীন প্যাকেজ বিতরণের মধ্য দিয়ে ৯ জানুয়ারি ২০২৩ এই কর্মসূচি শুরু হয় এবং ১৮ জানুয়ারি রংপুরের গঙ্গাচড়া উপজেলার মরনেয়া ইউনিয়নে ৫৫০ জন শীতার্ত পরিবারে একইরকম প্যাকেজ বিতরণের মধ্য দিয়ে শেষ হয়। সর্বমোট ২৯৪৫টি পরিবারে শীতকালীন প্যাকেজ সামগ্রী দেওয়া হয়েছে। প্রতিটি অনুষ্ঠানে আরডিআরএস বাংলাদেশ ও মুসলিম এইড-ইউকে বাংলাদেশ-এর কর্মকর্তারা ছাড়াও উপজেলা নির্বাহী অফিসার ও সংশ্লিষ্ট উপজেলার অন্যান্য কর্মকর্তা এবং ইউপি চেয়ারম্যান-মেম্বাররা উপস্থিত ছিলেন।

RDRS Bangladesh Celebrates its 51st Anniversary

"We Should Feel Proud of Being Part of RDRS" - ED, RDRS

"We should feel proud of being a part of RDRS. We should feel proud to introduce ourselves as an employee of RDRS", said Tapan Kumar Karmaker, Executive Director of RDRS Bangladesh in his speech on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of RDRS today. He addressed in the event organized in RDRS Head Office, Dhaka.

RDRS was established on 8 February 1972 to assist with relief and rehabilitation support to the war-ravaged people of greater Rangpur-Dinajpur region of Bangladesh soon after the independence war of the newly born country. Later, RDRS extended its support to improve the lives and livelihoods of marginalized and underprivileged communities by providing various development services over five decades. Starting from the Haripur in Thakurgaon district, the organization has now expanded across the country covering 30 districts.

The Executive Director added in his speech that this is RDRS, this is how the organization is growing for the people and being acknowledged by the people. RDRS is well-known and recognized as a transparent and committed development organization. He said, “RDRS is expanding slowly because it is committed to ensuring quality service. So if you cannot be proud of RDRS, what else you can be about”! Mr Karmaker discussed RDRS’ vision and mission, and urged all the staff to serve the RDRS with commitment to accomplish the vision and mission.

Dr. M. G. Neogi, Independence Award winner and former Head of the Agriculture department of RDRS was also present in the event among others. He shared his glorious time in RDRS, RDRS’ role in the development of northwestern Bangladesh, and wishes RDRS long-lived.

The 51st celebration event was organized across the RDRS working area today, 8 February 2023.

Bangladesher Subornojayanti

Bangladesh Subarnajayanti

RDRS Bangladesh 51st Anniversary/ Press news_1

RDRS Bangladesh 51st Anniversary/ Press news_2

RDRS Bangladesh 51st Anniversary/ Press news_3

RDRS celebrates its 51st Anniversary

"We Should Feel Proud of Being Part of RDRS" - ED, RDRS

"We should feel proud of being a part of RDRS. We should feel proud to introduce ourselves as an employee of RDRS", said Tapan Kumar Karmaker, Executive Director of RDRS Bangladesh in his speech on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of RDRS today. He addressed in the event organized in RDRS Head Office, Dhaka.

RDRS was established on 8 February 1972 to assist with relief and rehabilitation support to the war-ravaged people of greater Rangpur-Dinajpur region of Bangladesh soon after the independence war of the newly born country. Later, RDRS extended its support to improve the lives and livelihoods of marginalized and underprivileged communities by providing various development services over five decades. Starting from the Haripur in Thakurgaon district, the organization has now expanded across the country covering 30 districts.

The Executive Director added in his speech that this is RDRS, this is how the organization is growing for the people and being acknowledged by the people. RDRS is well-known and recognized as a transparent and committed development organization. He said, “RDRS is expanding slowly because it is committed to ensuring quality service. So if you cannot be proud of RDRS, what else you can be about”! Mr Karmaker discussed RDRS’ vision and mission, and urged all the staff to serve the RDRS with commitment to accomplish the vision and mission.

Dr. M. G. Neogi, Independence Award winner and former Head of the Agriculture department of RDRS was also present in the event among others. He shared his glorious time in RDRS, RDRS’ role in the development of northwestern Bangladesh, and wishes RDRS long-lived.

The 51st celebration event was organized across the RDRS working area today, 8 February 2023.

ELCA delegation visit RDRS activities in Cox’s Bazar

A five-member delegation of ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) visited RDRS during 11-13 February 2023. The purpose of the visit was to seek the possibility of expanding partnerships with RDRS to respond to the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Cox’s bazar.

The ELCA team includes Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica Padilla, Executive Director, Service and Justice Home Area, ELCA; Rev. Dr. Franklin Ishida, Area Program Director for Asia, Service and Justice, ELCA; Patricia, Program Director, International Policy and Advocacy, ELCA; Louisa Ishida, Program Communicator, Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA; Chandran Paul Martin, Regional Representative for South Asia, ELCA.

The team traveled to Cox’s Bazar and visited RDRS activities operated in Rohingya camps and the host community. They meet with Rohingya group, talks with volunteers and visited their makeshift shelter in the camp. Later, the ELCA team visited RDRS tree plantation work, visited a women group in the Jilongja union in Cox’s Bazar district. After visiting the field activities in Cox’s Bazar, the team meet with RDRS staff at a debriefing session.

Tapan Kumar Karmaker, Executive Director of RDRS Bangladesh had a reception event to honor of the esteemed delegation from ELCA and discussed the further opportunity for joint intervention to address the Rohingya crisis on the humanitarian ground. It is notable that ELCA is a long-standing development partner of RDRS and supporting RDRS’ for five decades.

Agreement signed between RDRS and Southtech Ltd.

সাউথটেক লিঃ এর সাথে আরডিআরএস বাংলাদেশ এর দ্বিপাক্ষিক চুক্তি স্বাক্ষর

আরডিআরএস এর ক্ষুদ্রঋণ কর্মসূচিতে মোবাইল ফিনান্সিয়াল সার্ভিস ও শর্ট ম্যাসেজ সার্ভিস (ক্ষুদেবার্তা) সেবা চালু করার লক্ষ্যে আরডিআরএস বাংলাদেশ সফটওয়্যার নির্মাতা প্রতিষ্ঠান সাউথটেক লিমিটেড এর সঙ্গে এক দ্বিপাক্ষিক চুক্তি স্বাক্ষর করেছে। আরডিআরএস এর হেড অফিস, ঢাকায় গত ১৪ই ফেব্রুয়ারি ২০২৩ তারিখে এই চুক্তি স্বাক্ষরিত হয়। আরডিআরএস বাংলাদেশ এর পক্ষে তপন কুমার কর্মকার, নির্বাহী পরিচালক এবং সাউথটেক লিঃ এর পক্ষে মামনুন কাদের, ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক ও প্রধান নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা চুক্তিপত্রে স্বাক্ষর করেন।

বেসরকারি উন্নয়ন সংস্থা আরডিআরএস বাংলাদেশ এর ক্ষুদ্রঋণ কর্মসূচির আওতাভুক্ত সদস্যদেরকে অধিকতর উন্নত সেবা প্রদান এবং আর্থিক স্বচ্ছতা নিশ্চিতকরণের লক্ষ্যে আগাামি ১ মার্চ ২০২৩ থেকে সদস্য পর্যায়ে ক্ষুদেবার্তা বা শর্ট ম্যাজেস সার্ভিস এবং ১ এপ্রিল ২০২৩ হতে মোবাইল ফিনান্সিয়াল সার্ভিস চালু হতে যাচ্ছে। চুক্তি অনুসারে সাউথটেক লিমিটেড আরডিআরএস বাংলাদেশকে সফটওয়্যার উন্নয়নে সহযোগিতা দেবে।

শর্ট ম্যাসেজ সার্ভিসের আওতায় সদস্যরা প্রত্যেক আর্থিক লেনদেনের পর (সদস্য কর্তৃক ঋণ ও সঞ্চয়ের টাকা জমা প্রদান, সঞ্চয় উত্তোলন, ঋণ গ্রহণ ইত্যাদি) তারা তাদের রেজিস্টারকৃত মোবাইল ফোনে ক্ষুদে বার্তা পাবেন। এছাড়া, মোবাইল ফিনান্সিয়াল সার্ভিসের আওতায় সদস্যরা বিকাশ মোবাইল ব্যাংকিং এর মাধ্যমে তাদের সঞ্চয় ও ঋণের কিস্তি প্রদান করতে পারবেন।

Agreement signed between RDRS and Southtech Ltd/ Press news

Parveen Mahmud FCA elected Chairperson of RDRS Board

Parveen Mahmud FCA, has been elected chairperson of the RDRS Bangladesh Board of Trustees. She is the Past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh.

Besides, Dr S M Akbar has been elected Treasurer. Prof. Dr M Moynul Haque, Faruque Ahmed, Philip Biswas, Hasin Jahan, Shabbir Ahmed Chowdhury and Zahida Ispahani were elected members of the Board of Trustees.

RDRS Bangladesh is one of the long-established non-governmental development organizations in the country. Established in 1972, the organization has been working for the socio-economic and livelihood improvement of disadvantaged people, especially in the north-western region of Bangladesh for the past fifty years. At present, RDRS is operating its development activities in 30 districts of the country.

Parveen Mahmud FCA elected Chairperson of RDRS Board/ Press news

RDRS Board elects Parveen Mahmud as Chairperson

জাতীয় শোক দিবস কর্মসূচি

জাতীয় শোক দিবস কর্মসূচি

জাতির পিতা বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান-এর ৪৮তম শাহাদৎ বার্ষিকী উদ্যাপন উপলক্ষ্যে আরডিআরএস বাংলাদেশ কর্তৃক গৃহীত “জাতীয় শোক দিবস ২০২৩” উদযাপন কর্মসূচি

সংস্থার পক্ষ থেকে শোকাবহ আগস্ট মাস জুড়ে বাস্তবায়নের জন্য নিম্নোক্ত কর্মসূচিসমূহ হাতে নেয়া হয়:

Signing Ceremony between RDRS and EcoDev

A signing ceremony was held between RDRS Bangladesh and Eco-Dev Solution & Technologies Bangladesh Limited on 29 August 2023 at RDRS Head Office, Dhaka. Tapan Kumar Karmaker, Executive Director of RDRS Bangladesh and Subrata Rana, CEO & MD of Eco-Dev Solution & Technologies Bangladesh Limited signed the agreement on behalf of the respective organizations. This collaborative initiative will offer RDRS an advanced IT solution for digitization of its microfinance programme.

Md. Fazlul Kader, Additional Managing Director, PKSF, Md. Zillur Rahman, Director, MRA, Philip Biswas, member of RDRS Board of Trustees and Shabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, member of RDRS Board of Trustees were present in the signing ceremony as the special guests.

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RDRS Office Space for rent.

RDRS Hosts AZEECON Summit in Rangpur

The 25th Asian Zone Emergency and Environment Cooperation Network (AZEECON) Summit began this morning at the Begum Rokeya Auditorium, RDRS Office, Rangpur. The five-day event, running from October 21-25, is hosted by RDRS Bangladesh, a leading NGO with over 53 years of development work in Northern Bangladesh.

AZEECON is a network of country programs under The Lutheran World Federation/Department for World Service (LWF/DWS), established in 1997. Active in seven countries—Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Nepal—AZEECON focuses on promoting disaster risk reduction and reducing vulnerabilities in the working areas of its member programs. The network aims to strengthen the capacities of local communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters through disaster preparedness, risk management, and environmental programs.

Delegates from LWF Nepal, LHCO Cambodia, and CDRM and CDS Indonesia are attending the summit to address pressing environmental issues and enhance emergency cooperation across the region. Tapan Kumar Karmaker, Executive Director of RDRS Bangladesh, delivered the inaugural speech, welcoming participants and emphasizing the importance of joint efforts in building a resilient future for the Asian region.

The meeting, organized by RDRS, also provided a platform for participants to share best practices from their organizations in addressing climate change, responding to disaster risk reduction, and planning for disaster preparedness. This exchange of knowledge and experience aims to further strengthen regional collaboration in mitigating the impacts of climate change and enhancing disaster resilience.

Lutheran World Federation Delegates Commend RDRS Education Projects in Moulvibazar

A two-member delegation from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) recently visited RDRS’s education projects in Moulvibazar, Bangladesh. The team, led by Mr. Robert Wilson Waddell, Global Funding Coordinator, and Mr. Matendo Lokiru Yohana, Regional Program Coordinator, explored the initiatives undertaken by RDRS, focusing on the "Promoting Education for Early Learners Project" funded by USAID and the "Out of School" project funded by the Bureau of Non-Formal Education (BNFE) of the Bangladesh government.

On February 27th, the delegation toured Moulvi Tea Garden School and Hence Besch Primary School in Moulvibazar. RDRS, in collaboration with Sesame Workshop Bangladesh, is actively involved in promoting quality education in these schools, primarily catering to students from tea garden laborer and ethnic communities' families. The projects, funded by USAID, include provisions such as educational materials, libraries, and efforts to strengthen school management committees.

The following day, on February 28th, the team visited Tea Garden Hospital line Non-Formal School, Rajnagar, and Iliaspur Non-Formal Primary School, Iliaspur. RDRS is running non-formal learning centers providing 42 months of education to approximately 60 school dropouts from tea garden laborer families. Supported by BNFE, RDRS offers essential support, including books, materials, clothing, and a monthly stipend of 120 taka. The educational program extends up to level four, with the belief that completing this level will encourage children to re-enter formal schooling.

During a meeting with the RDRS team in Moulvibazar, the LWF delegation commended the well-justified sustainability plan and the dedication of the project teams. The delegation expressed happiness over the visible impact of RDRS activities, especially the strong linkages between RDRS and the government in promoting quality education for disadvantaged children. The LWF team plans to extend their visit to witness various other RDRS initiatives in Rangpur.

Mr. Faruque Ahmed Elected as the Chairperson of RDRS Board of Trustees

RDRS Bangladesh, a pioneering organization in development and humanitarian efforts for over 52 years, proudly announces the election of Mr. Faruque Ahmed as the new chairperson of its esteemed Board of Trustees. Mr. Faruque Ahmed is the Chairperson of the RDRS Board of Trustees. His election occurred during the 66th meeting of the Board, and his three-year tenure has started on April 27, 2024.

Mr. Faruque Ahmed with a master's degree in Economics from Dhaka University and another master's in Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins University, USA, brings extensive experience in the development sector. Previously, he was the Executive Director of BRAC International and worked at the World Bank office in Dhaka. Mr. Ahmed was a board member of the vaccine alliance, GAVI, in Geneva and worked in various committees of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank.

Currently, Mr. Ahmed is a board member of the Social Marketing Company (SMC) Enterprise and an active member of the Bangladesh Health Watch working group. Mr. Ahmed has been a member of the RDRS Board of Trustees since March 16, 2020, and his continued commitment to the organization's mission underscores his passion for development. RDRS believes that with Mr. Faruque Ahmed’s leadership, the organization will be able to continue and strengthen its commitment to serving disadvantaged people across the country.

Agricultural innovation can reduce food insecurity - ‍speakers said at RDRS Seminar

Sabrina Sharmin/RDRS-Dhaka/7 October 2023: Climate change impacts are already adding significant stress to our physical and environmental resources, human ability, and economic activities. The climate change in Bangladesh currently creates insecurities for food, water, life, property, settlement, livelihoods, and others. Climatic impacts reduce securities directly and indirectly. Environmental degradation of land resources reduces food security, increases conflicts over resources and livelihood persuasions, and increases different diseases and health hazards.

RDRS Bangladesh is taking steps to bring people from different flocks together to address this crucial issue. In this context, RDRS organized a seminar on ‘Climate Change Adaptation, Agricultural Innovation, and Resilience’ on 7 October 2023 at Hotel Radisson Blu in Dhaka. The purpose of organizing this seminar was to focus on the challenges caused by climate change and the alarming situation of our country and share RDRS experiences addressing the issue. The representatives from different government organizations, NGOs, international donor agencies, and educational institutions participated in the seminar.

Dr. Atiur Rahman, Emeritus Professor, University of Dhaka; Former Governor, Bangladesh Bank; and Founder Chairman, National Char Alliance was present as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, Dhaka School of Economics; Eminent Economist and Environmental Activist chaired the event. Dr. Md. Abdul Muyeed, Member, Governing Body, PKSF, and former Director General, Department of Agricultural Extension; Shykh Seraj, Director & Head of News, Channel i; were present as panelists. Dr. Mrinmoy Guha Neogi, Deputy Project Leader, University of Western Australia, and Independence Award Winner presented the keynote paper at the seminar.

RDRS undertook various initiatives to enhance the capacity of vulnerable communities in northwest Bangladesh to address the impacts of climate change such as low and uneven rainfall, floods, cold spells, drought, and other natural calamities. Major activities taken under the climate change adaptation program are: developing community coping mechanisms, innovation and extending short-duration rice-based cropping patterns, promoting rice-fish culture at the household level, flood-tolerant and drought-tolerant rice in a changed climate, promoting rice-bank for community food security during emergency, homestead raising in the flood-prone areas, alternate wetting and drying technology, bio-gas plant, conservation agriculture for improving farm productivity, tree plantation and many more.

The speakers said that learning is always a good opportunity to feed our mind. Sharing experiences and learning from each other help us to map our future actions. Through such events, we get a chance to boost our knowledge with a unique opportunity to accelerate our targets and interventions for climate change adaptation and resilience. Dr. Atiur Rahman said that partnership is the best strategy to work on climate change issues. Such events give us an opportunity to come under one umbrella and work together. Dr. Neogi said that more researches for agricultural innovation, introducing of high-yielding crops will help the country to ensure food security for all. Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman emphasizes on justified economic