RDRS Bangladesh, with support from Sesame Workshop Bangladesh and USAID, ran the Sisimpur project in Habiganj and Moulvibazar. The project focused on helping young children in early grades, especially those who are marginalized, girls, and children with disabilities. The goal was to create a happy and inclusive learning environment in 250 schools. The project worked to train teachers, raise awareness among parents, and involve the community. It also held meetings and sessions to engage parents and improve children's literacy and life skills.

RDRS Bangladesh has implemented this project in collaboration with icddr,b and the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA. The donor for these field activities is Georgetown Page | 5 University, USA. This initiative, running from April 2024 to June 2026, targets 660 low-income women across four unions in Birganj Upazila, Dinajpur District. The project’s goal is to examine the impact of depression treatment (DT) combined with economic strengthening (ES) interventions through a cluster randomized controlled trial. By integrating mental health support with economic empowerment, the ASHA Project seeks to create sustainable, positive outcomes for these women, helping them to become valuable contributors to their families and society.

RDRS, in partnership with Save the Children in Bangladesh, and with support from Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is implementing the Jononi Project, which aims to strengthen maternal and neonatal health systems in the Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts. Running from March 2023 to December 2027, the project works closely with the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and Local Government Institutions (LGI) to reduce maternal mortality in the Rangpur division, contributing to Bangladesh’s achievement of SDG-3.

The Jononi Project focuses on building the capacity of health workers at all levels, renovating health facilities, and ensuring 24/7 delivery services at selected Union Health and Family Welfare Centers (UH&FWC) and Union Sub Center (USC). Additionally, the project provides essential supplies, logistics, and equipment, deploys midwives to address human resource gaps, and engages communities to raise awareness on maternal and newborn health, as well as the prevention of child marriage and early pregnancy.

In 1980, RDRS Bangladesh initiated its Tuberculosis Control Program in the Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts with support from its core program. In 2003, RDRS became a collaborating partner of the National Tuberculosis Control Program, supported by the Global Fund, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and BRAC. The organization provided TB care and prevention services through directly observed treatment (DOT) centers, microscopy centers, Gene X-pert Centers, X-ray centers, a Chest disease clinic, and an External Quality Assessment lab. RDRS Bangladesh utilizes the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short course) approach for TB diagnosis and treatment, where patients take medicine in front of health workers daily. The organization also organizes smear or cough collection centers in hard- to-reach areas, community clinics, Family Welfare Centers, rural dispensaries, and the RDRS Federation. Additionally, it conducts awareness campaigns, TB campaigns at the community level, and various meetings and orientations at the facility and community levels to develop referral linkages and facilitate early case diagnosis. RDRS Bangladesh arranges training for laboratory and other field staff to ensure quality diagnosis and treatment, early case detection, and appropriate treatment by DOT providers. The organization aims to provide quality TB services to medical doctors and ensure patient treatment after diagnosis.

RDRS, in collaboration with icddr,b and with support from USAID, is leading an initiative to combat tuberculosis (TB) among children aged 0-14 in the Rangpur, Kurigram, and Lalmonirhat districts. The project’s primary goal is to reduce the burden of TB among children by diagnosing at least 5% of child TB cases and ensuring they receive treatment under the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) strategy. A key focus of the project is on building the capacity of service providers and stakeholders to manage childhood TB effectively. Additionally, the project aims to establish a robust referral mechanism to ensure that children receive timely and accurate screening, treatment, and ongoing management of TB.

As a result of these efforts, community awareness about child TB has significantly increased, leading to earlier diagnosis and a rise in case notifications across the Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram districts.

The RDRS Core Comprehensive Program (CCP), supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is a project focused on improving access to health services for disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh, particularly targeting pregnant women, visually impaired individuals, and other marginalized groups in Rangpur Division and Jamalpur districts. Running from 2023 to 2025, the project aims to enhance the quality of life for these groups through various health interventions, including eye health services, reproductive health education, and emergency support for at-risk pregnant women. The project targets 114,965 participants, including women, adolescent girls, individuals with eye conditions, students, and disadvantaged people. It focuses on providing primary eye health services, including screenings, eye camps, and surgeries, with a priority on restoring eyesight for the underserved.

Access to Justice for Women (A2J for Women) is a joint project of the Law and Justice Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MoLJPA), and GIZ. RDRS Bangladesh is implementing the project in Rangpur District and the project duration is March 2024 to December 2026. The objective of the project is to ensure access to justice is increased for the poor and vulnerable, especially women. The project works to ensure legal representation of justice seekers including prisoners and reduce case backlog through effective case management. The indigent litigants will be assisted in obtaining legal services in coordination with the District Legal Aid Office, Courts, Police Stations, and Prison.

RDRS Bangladesh is committed to ending the scourge of slavery and human trafficking. Our Fight Slavery and Trafficking in Persons (FSTIP) project, in partnership with USAID-Winrock International, is focused on protecting vulnerable people in northern Bangladesh, including expectant migrants, young people at risk of trafficking, CM survivors, single mothers, ethnic minorities, and trafficked survivors. The project aims to benefit a total of 10,72,176 individuals, including 22,176 direct participants. Implemented across 60 unions within 15 upazilas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, and Sirajganj districts.

RDRS Bangladesh implements the CNB Project in Kurigram district, Bangladesh, aims to reduce early child and forced marriages. It is funded by Norwegian State Broadcast Corporation (NRK- Telethon) and supported by Plan International, Bangladesh. The CNB project focuses on youth leadership development, economic empowerment of youth and increasing the knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents. The project directly helps over 18,000 people and reaches over 600,000 through radio.

The project is being implemented by RDRS Bangladesh in partnership with Stromme Foundation, focused on improving the socio-economic conditions of 3,000 marginalized families in Rangpur district.

Targeting ethnic minority communities, the project aimed to address severe exploitation, food insecurity, gender discrimination, and lack of access to education and basic rights. SEEDS implemented key interventions such as Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers, Child Clubs, and Shonglap centers for adolescent girls, which collectively enhanced education access, empowered youth, and promoted sustainable livelihoods.

The project provided vocational training to unemployed youth, leading to significant employment and income generation. Overall, SEEDS successfully fostered community capacity and resilience, creating a lasting impact on the lives of the targeted families.

RDRS established a Rehabilitation Center in Lalmonirhat to provide shelter and support to women and girls affected by violence. The center promotes women’s rights, offers marketable skills training, basic education, legal and rights-based education, counseling, health care, and recreation. Since 2009, 930 women and girls have benefited from these services, gaining confidence and becoming empowered entrepreneurs.

The RDRS Core Comprehensive Program (CCP) is supported by Bread for the World (BftW) has been operational for many years. The current phase runs from 2023 to 2025. This project focuses on improving resilience and enhancing economic, social, and environmental sustainability for disadvantaged and excluded populations in 53 Upazilas across 8 districts in the Rangpur Division and Jamalpur district. It directly benefits 107,807 people, including 25,997 ethnic minorities, with 52% being female.

A key component of the project is the Union Federation, a community-based organization managed by marginalized local people. These federations operate at the Union Parishad level, the first tier of local government in Bangladesh. The project has supported 406 Union Federations, Youth & Women Forums, disaster management committees, and other marginalized groups.

RDRS Bangladesh, in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP), GFATM, and BRAC, is spearheading the "Integrated Tuberculosis Care and Prevention" project in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts.

This initiative aims to enhance TB case findings, strengthen the health system, and ensure sustainability in combating tuberculosis. With an extensive reach, the project targets over 3.8 million participants, providing comprehensive TB diagnosis, treatment, and care through an established network of DOT centers, microscopy centers, and Gene X-pert centers. The project's significant impact is evident in the increased community awareness and higher detection rates of TB cases, contributing to a 95% treatment success rate in the supported areas.

By addressing TB, this project directly contributes to SDG-3, which focuses on ending the epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria, and other communicable diseases, ensuring good health and well-being for all.

RDRS Bangladesh is working to improve the health of mothers and babies in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts. Our "Strengthening the Maternal and Neonatal Health System in Rangpur, Bangladesh" project, in partnership with Save the Children and KOICA, is helping thousands of pregnant women and young children get the care they need. The project targets over 54,821 newborns, 79,762 children under the age of two, 219,203 pregnant women, and numerous women of reproductive age, along with their families.

Our mission is to ensure safe pregnancies and healthy births by improving access to quality healthcare services. By deploying and training health workers, renovating health facilities, and providing essential medical supplies, we aim to create a supportive environment for maternal and neonatal health. This initiative is more than just a healthcare project; it’s a commitment to building stronger, healthier communities.

The project also addresses the pressing issue of child marriage, promoting gender equality and reproductive health education. Through community engagement and government collaboration, we strive to change societal norms and empower women to make informed health decisions.

RDRS Bangladesh, in partnership with the Stromme Foundation, is implementing the Socio-Economic Empowerment with Dignity and Sustainability (SEEDS) Project. This initiative targets 3,000 families from marginalized communities, including indigenous groups, women, youth, and children, in Mithapukur, Badargonj, and Pirgonj Upazilas of Rangpur district.

The SEEDS Project strives to improve the socio-economic well-being of vulnerable families, empowering them to escape poverty with dignity and sustainability. Aligned with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including No Poverty, Good Health, Quality Education, Gender Equality, and Climate Action, this initiative seeks to create positive change in communities.

Key activities encompass skill development, formation of self-reliant groups, vocational training, and capacity building for community members to assert their rights and hold local governments accountable. Additionally, the project focuses on providing quality education, empowering adolescents, and promoting sustainable income generation through green jobs and climate-resilient technologies.

RDRS Bangladesh is committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn. Our Out of School Children Education Program (OoSCEP) is bringing education to the doorstep of children aged 8-14 who have been unable to attend school.

With support from the Bureau of Non-formal Education, we're operating in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Panchagarh districts, reaching over 135,000 people, including 44,708 children.

By establishing 165 learning centers and providing essential learning materials, we're helping these children build a strong foundation for their future. This program directly contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education by providing inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

RDRS Bangladesh is committed to ending the scourge of slavery and human trafficking. Our Fight Slavery and Trafficking in Persons (FSTIP) project, in partnership with USAID-Winrock International, is focused on protecting vulnerable people in northern Bangladesh, including expectant migrants, young people at risk of trafficking, CM survivors, single mothers, ethnic minorities, and trafficked survivors.

The project aims to benefit a total of 10,72,176 individuals, including 22,176 direct participants. Implemented across 60 unions within 15 upazilas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, and Sirajganj districts. The project aligns with SDG goals 1 (No Poverty), 5 (Gender Equality), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

By preventing trafficking, providing support to survivors, and strengthening the justice system, we aim to create a safer and more just society for all. We're working hard to ensure that no one falls victim to this heinous crime.

RDRS Bangladesh is on a mission to transform early childhood education in Moulvibazar and Habiganj. In partnership with USAID and Sesame Workshop Bangladesh, we're implementing the Promoting Education for Early Learners Project to create inclusive and stimulating learning environments for young children. Our project participant target is 15,000 learners annually, along with their parents and 1,250 teachers of Private Primary Schools.

Our goal is to help every child, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, reach their full potential. We're achieving this by training teachers in inclusive teaching methods, developing engaging educational materials, and working closely with parents and communities.

By investing in early education, we're not only improving children's learning outcomes but also building stronger, more inclusive communities.

RDRS Bangladesh, in partnership with NRK Telethon, Norway, is determined to break the cycle of early and forced marriage in Kurigram district, one of Bangladesh's most impoverished regions. Targeting adolescents and youth aged 13-24, their families, and community leaders, this project aims to empower young people, particularly girls, to make informed choices about their future.

With a direct reach of 18,975 individuals and an indirect impact on 384,868 community members across 45 unions, the project is creating a ripple effect of positive change. By establishing youth platforms, providing life skills training, and economic empowerment opportunities, the project is equipping young women with the tools to build resilient lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

This initiative directly aligns with SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. Through holistic programming, the project is not only preventing child marriage but also fostering a more equitable and prosperous future for the people of Kurigram.

RDRS Bangladesh, in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is committed to improving the lives of the most vulnerable communities in northern Bangladesh. The Core Comprehensive Program focuses on enhancing access to essential health services, particularly for women and children, within disaster-prone regions of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Rangpur, and Jamalpur districts.

The initiative targets approximately 114,965 individuals, including women, adolescent girls, youths, eye patients, students, and disadvantaged people from the Rangpur Division. The project also emphasizes sexual and reproductive health support, eye care services, and rehabilitation for visually impaired children. The project also supports pregnant mothers at risk of natural disasters.

Key highlights of the project include the initiation of ophthalmological operations at the RDRS eye care center, with 778 patients operated on in the first month, training 125 women as community health promoters, conducting 17 eye camps to identify cataract patients, teaching the Braille system to 10 visually impaired students, and supporting the delivery of 230 high-risk pregnant mothers. This comprehensive project aligns with SDG Goal #3: Good Health and Well-being.

RDRS Bangladesh is implementing the ASHA Project: Impact of Depression Treatment and Economic Strengthening Intervention for Low-Income Women in Rural Bangladesh: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. The project is being implemented in partnership with icddr,b and the University of Massachusetts, USA. The project focuses on low-income women in rural Bangladesh. The primary beneficiaries are 660 low-income women residing in Birganj Upazila of Dinajpur District.

The project addresses the alarming mental health crisis identified by the World Health Organization (WHO), which highlights a significant global burden of mental and psychiatric disorders. This project aims to fill that gap by conducting a community-based study of mental health problems in rural Bangladesh.

Our goal is to create a ripple effect of positive change, empowering women to become self-sufficient and contributing members of their communities. Our project tackles the interconnected issues of mental health and economic hardship. By offering comprehensive support, we're working to break the cycle of poverty and create sustainable solutions. The project aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

RDRS Bangladesh is implementing the project titled "Alliance for Combating TB in Bangladesh." The project is being implemented in partnership with icddr’b and USAID. This project aims to reduce the burden of tuberculosis (TB) among children in the Rangpur division. Despite rising notification rates, childhood TB remains significantly underreported in this region.

The specific objectives of the project include achieving at least a 6% childhood TB detection rate among total TB patients by 2026, developing the capacity of service providers and stakeholders in childhood TB, and establishing a referral mechanism for effective screening, identification, and treatment. To achieve these objectives, RDRS Bangladesh conducts various activities such as basic staff training, active case finding within healthcare facilities, orientation sessions with Graduate Practitioners (GPs), inception meetings, integration with the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program, and awareness sessions in schools and for RDRS federation members.

Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), the project anticipates challenges such as the potential transfer of trained doctors, closure of community-based DOTS centers on weekends and holidays, sustaining partnerships with private healthcare providers, and potential drug shortages. The primary target community includes Upazila Health Complexes, District Hospitals, Medical Colleges, Schools, and Federation Members.

RDRS Bangladesh is implementing Combating Early Marriage in Bangladesh project in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Lalmonirhat districts. The project is being implemented in partnership with Plan International Bangladesh. The target community of the project is district CMPC members with 334 programme participants of the project areas. The Combating Early Marriage in Bangladesh project is designed in line with SDG -5 (Gender Equality).  

The Government of Bangladesh has set a goal of eliminating child marriage by 2041 from the country in line with target 5.3 of SDG. To achieve this goal, GoB has set two intermediate targets for 2021 which will contribute to the 2041 goal. The first one is to reduce the existing child marriage prevalence rate for girls under 18 by a third and, the second is to bring down the existing prevalence rate for child marriage of girls below age 15 to zero. In this context, RDRS Bangladesh has initiated this project to address the Vision 2041 of the government and the targets of SDG - 5.   

The goal of the project is to combat CEFM (Child Early and Force Marriage) and reduce the vulnerability of adolescents, particularly girls in Rangpur division of Bangladesh. The objectives of the project are: 

1. Increased agency of adolescents, especially girls to protect themselves from harmful gender norms and practices, including CEFM, and to access economic empowerment opportunities; 
2. Increased community acceptance of norms that value the girl child and actions that support girls and boys to delay marriage; 
3. Increased responsiveness of duty bearers at national, District, and sub-District levels to prevent and respond to child rights violations, particularly CEFM, among vulnerable girls. 

The main activities of the project are training for ToT of Master Trainers for National Resource Pool consisting of trainers from DWA training cell -   on CMRA 2017, GE, child rights and protection, roles and responsibilities training package at District Level; Obtaining endorsement of District and administrations to hold orientation sessions for CMPC members; Conducting orientation training sessions of district level CMPC members on CMRA -ACT-2017, CMRA-Rule-2018, Child Rights and Gender; Day observance (16 Days Activism, International Women’s Day, National Child Marriage Prevention Day, and National Girl Child Day); Orientation to adolescent on CMRA -ACT-2017, CMRA-Rule-2018, Child Rights and Gender. 

The key highlights of the project are – District child marriage prevention committee reformed in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur and Panchagarh districts as per CMRA-Rule-2018; Upazila child marriage prevention committee is in function; District action plan is prepared on the basis of NPA.  

RDRS Bangladesh is implementing Fight Slavery and Trafficking in Persons (FSTIP) project in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Joypurhat and Sirajganj districts for the period of 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2026. The project is being implemented in partnership with Winrock International, funded by USAID. The direct programme participants of the project are the poor women and men of northern Bangladesh with special focus with special focus on expectant migrants, young people, at-risk trafficking and CM survivors, single mother, ethnic minorities, and trafficked survivors. The indirect programme participants are the religious leaders, federation leaders, Union Parishad, youth forum, officials of the relevant departments of government/non-government and recruiting agencies who will support the interventions in all aspects of the project. The FSTIP project is designed in line with SDG – 1, 5 and 16 (No Poverty; Gender Equality; and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).  

The five districts under this project (Lalmonirhat, Ragpur, Gaibandha, Joypurhat and Sirajganj) are the border area and underdeveloped. Because of this, these areas are at high-risk for human trafficking. A large number of people especially women and young people are being trafficked through this route every year. Poor economic conditions, unemployment, lack of awareness, child marriage, and dowry are some main reasons that make especially women and girls vulnerable to trafficking. This project is being implemented to be one of the best options to prevent trafficking in these areas.     

The goal of the project is to reduce slavery and trafficking through prevention, protection and establishing access to referral services. The objectives of the project are: 

1. Systems, capacity, and sustainability of justice actors and institutions enhanced; 
2. Human rights violations are prevented, and public awareness of trafficking and its dangers is enhanced; 
3. Protection of trafficking survivors increased. 

The main activities of the project are to activate and strengthen CTCs, CMPCs and GBV committees; expand and train peer leader networks on TIP, CM, safe migration, and modern technology; identify and support to TIP & CM at-risk by trained peer leaders; TIP & CM message will broadcast through community radios & other media; create safe space where adolescent girls can discuss sensitive issues and solution can be proposed to address CM; organise day observance events related to human trafficking at the local level; training to marriage registrars on Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017;  identify and support returnee migrants due to Covid-19 pandemic; raising awareness on Covid-19, TIP, CM & Safe migration among the community people; TIP & CM survivors received referral & direct protection assistant (eg. counseling support, vocational training, livelihood reintegration support); workshop for develop and revitalized 5 referral directories; provide protection assistance to the survivors of CM through referral; support FSTIP to secure additional funding and in-kind support contribution to survivors with service and shelter home; support the processing of a maximum of 200 complains at BMET from TIP survivors.  

The key highlights of the project are survivor-centric protection assistance to TIP and CM survivors; activation and functioning of community-based TIP and CM prevention, and mass awareness.