Projects
Projects and Programs
Bangladesh Rotary in the last 86 years has executed thousands of projects and programs as Rotary was founded with an idea that businesses and professional people could join together in fellowship and service to the community, changing the lives of hundreds and thousands of people mainly from the underprivileged community. The major projects and programs of Bangladesh Rotary include the following
• Improvement of Dhaka Railway Station in Fulbaria:
It was the first Rotary project in Dhaka then East Bengal initiated in 1939 by RC Dhaka with the Assam-Bengal Railway.
• Distribution of Relief during Bengal Famine:
RC Dhaka organized relief centers jointly with government for distribution of free food and fuel during the infamous Bengal famine in 1943-44
In 1951-52, RC Dhaka founded the Rotary Primary School in East Rajabazaar in Tejgaon, presently running as Rotary Government Primary School. It is the oldest Rotary project in Bangladesh. The Rotary Blind School, the first in the country, was founded in 1956-57 by RC Dhaka. It is the nucleus for a number Drishti Protibondhi Biddalaya (School for the Disabled Eyesight) in the country under the Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation (Foundation for the Development of the Disabled).
• Relief Work during 1970 Cyclone:
The Rotary responded immediately to 'Great Bhola Cyclone' that struck the coastal areas of Bhola and Patuakhali on 12-13 November 1970. A unique seminar was organized, which attracted worldwide Rotary response in launching the project 'Home for the Homeless' with financial assistance from 'World Community Service' (WCS) program of Rotary and other foreign Rotary Clubs.
• School-cum-cyclone shelters:
In 1972-73, the Club rehabilitated a large number of people affected by the 1970 cyclone in Char Fashion and built four school-cum-cyclone shelters at Manpura in Bhola, with pre-fabricated steel structures donated by Rotary Clubs of Japan. Subsequently, hundreds of such school-cum shelters were built along the coastal region by the government, participated by a number of Rotary Clubs, donor agencies and NGOs.
• The Rotary Cancer Detection Unit (RCDU)
Founded in 1980 by RC Dhaka in a tin-shed in Dhaka Medical Collage under a MOU signed between Ministry of Health and RC Dhaka.
• National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) :
In 1982, the government founded NICRH under the MOU with RCDU as the nucleus. In 1985-86 a permanent three-storied building was constructed for NICRH at a cost of 3.5 million taka, raised through the 'Walkathon' program. It was the first building for NICRH, In 1986, the NICRH and RCDU was shifted to the permanent building. The Club supplied lab equipment for NICRH with the support of Rotary Club of Balwyn, Australia-Over one million cancer patients have been treated in the RCDU in the last 36 years.
• Sleeping Kits Distribution (SKD) program:
It is the longest running program of Rotary in Bangladesh. The program is funded by Canadian NGO 'Sleeping Children Around the World' (SCAW). Until now (2015-16) over 3.5 million Canadian dollars and 15.0 million takas have been spent for over 100,000 kits for boys and girls in equal numbers from age 5 to 12 from the poorest of the society.
• Inland Fisheries Project:
In March 1984, RC Comilla launched the Inland Fisheries Project under the 3-H grant of Rotary Foundation. The project included training of fish culturists, developing nursery ponds and supply of quality fish fries. Over 250 Union Fish Nurseries were set up in Comilla and neighboring areas.
• Eradication of Polio & NID Program:
In 1985, Rotary Clubs participated in the Rotary International initiative for eradication of polio from the world under the PolioPIus program. Rotary in Bangladesh played a leading role in organizing the National Immunization (NID) program started by the government in 1995 with the financial support of Rotary.
• Low Cost Shelter (LCS):
The project was launched in 1987-88 by RC Narayanganj Midtown with support of Rotarians from Germany. 530 LCSs were built costing 434,000 US$ and 4500 people benefited from the project. Another 43 LCS was built in 2008 costing 135,469 US$ supported by RC Hamilton.
• Limb Centre:
In 1989-90, the RC Khulna founded the Limb Centre in Khulna with the support Jaipur Limb Society. So far 9,735 artificial limbs for the amputees, 11,226 clippers and 45 wheel chairs were provided by the project.
• Rotary Health Centre: (LCS):
The project was founded by RC Jessore and inaugurated in November 1997. The 5-storied health center including an old home' was developed on piece of land donated by Mrs Rizia Sarder on behalf of Late Ahmed Ali Sarder and his family. The project includes both outdoor and 50-bed indoor facilities with modern equipment.
• Livestock & Poultry Development and Integrated Farms Development project: (LCS):
The project was developed by RC Mymensingh at Biolor in Trishal on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. The project was supported by 3-H grant of Rotary Foundation and involved raring of livestock and poultry farming that benefitted a large number of families in the area.
• Rotary Betagi Union High School:
It is the longest running program of Rotary in Bangladesh. The program is funded by Canadian NGO 'Sleeping Children Around the World' (SCAW). Until now (2015-16) over 3.5 million Canadian dollars and 15.0 million takas have been spent for over 100,000 kits for boys and girls in equal numbers from age 5 to 12 from the poorest of the society.
• Boat Clinic: (LCS):
The project was developed by RC Mymensingh at Biolor in Trishal on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. The project was supported by 3-H grant of Rotary Foundation and involved raring of livestock and poultry farming that benefitted a large number of families in the area.
• Rotary Medical Centre:
It is the longest running program of Rotary in Bangladesh. The program is funded by Canadian NGO 'Sleeping Children Around the World' (SCAW). Until now (2015-16) over 3.5 million Canadian dollars and 15.0 million takas have been spent for over 100,000 kits for boys and girls in equal numbers from age 5 to 12 from the poorest of the society.
A. Prevention of Diseases and Treatment:
1. In 1961, the first eye-camp in the country was organised by RC Dhaka with the support of IPAC (Australia) and BNSB (Bangladesh National Society for the Blinds). Since then hundreds of eye camps and dental camps are organised every year by Rotary Clubs benefitting thousands of people. The programs are supported by eye and dental hospitalsand NGOs with volunteer doctors from home and abroad. Programs for School Eye Examination (SEE) and Dental Care for children under ABCD (Aussie-Bangla Care for Dental) are organised regularly.
2. Bangladesh Rotary organize numerous health camps Every year the Clubs organizes a number of health camps jointly with various hospitals and healthcare organizations providing basic and specialized treatment to mostly poor and vulnerable patients with limited access to formal healthcare facilities.
3) Rotary Clubs in Bangladesh has been supplying medical and laboratory equipment including Ambu bags, medical gas analyzer, freezer, wheel chairs, ambulances, equipment & re-agents to various hospitals and healthcare units including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, NICRH, Kumudini Hospital and others.
4. The Clubs organizes awareness program for prevention of cancer and other life threatening diseases including HIV and AIDS. 5.Cleft Lip and Palate, including Burn reconstruction surgery was organized supported by Rotary Club of Nepean and Penrith of Australia. 6. The prosthetic hand project was introduced, providing active functional hands jointly with LN4 of USA and CRP of Bangladesh. 7. The Rotary Pacemaker Bank was formed in 2007 jointly by Rotary Clubs of Dhaka Buriganga, Dhaka Cosmopolitan, Dhaka Midcity, Dhaka and Dilkusha and the Heartbeat International (a US based NGO) and National Heart Foundation.
B. Water and Sanitation:
1) hundreds of hand/shallow tube wells are set along with sanitary latrines keeping in view the overall improvement of hygiene and sanitation of the common people, especially in rural areas.
2) Rotary has undertaken a program for mitigation of arsenic in Kushtia, Jessore and other Arsenic affected areas in Bangladesh supported RI which contributed 500,000 US$ in 1999-2000.
3) An unique sand pond filter was installed in Shayamnagar, Satkhira supplying pure drinking to an entire village affected by salinity.
4) Rotary has also initiated program distribution of re-usable sanitary napkins designed 'DAYS FOR GIRLS', an US based NGO. The program was introduced by RC Dhaka and Gulshan Green.
C. Maternal and Child Health:
1) Rotary organises a number of Free Friday Clinics for mother and child in the city slums and rural areas with volunteer doctors from home and abroad including NGOs. Hundreds of poor patients are benefitted from the clinics.
2) Rotary supplied life saving medicine to Azimpur Mother & Child Health Training Institute and Hospital for treating pregnant women with child birth complications.
3) Regular vaccination program for children against life threatening diseases are undertaken by the Clubs. RC Dhaka organized vaccination program against Pneumonia (Hib) jointly with 16 Rotary Clubs of Nagasaki, RID 2740 and Rotary Foundation.
D. Basic Education and Literacy:
1) Rotary organizes a number of literacy programs including running free community schools and education centre in urban slums and rural areas.
2) Shamima Memorial Girls School was constructed at Charfashion, Bhola sponsored by RC Uttara and funded by RC Give Denmark and RID 1450.
3) Text books, writing material, backpack, computers, training aids and manuals, furniture and school bus, including school meals are supplied regularly: The Club also provides financial assistance to meritorious poor and underprivileged students.
E. Economic and Community Development:
1) Since 1950s Rotary has been involved in relief and rehabilitation works and disaster management every year during flooding, cyclones and other natural disasters. In 1970s and 1980s, Rotary has rehabilitated hundreds of families with "Home for the homeless' Program, including supply of agriculture implements, seeds, etc. for people affected by tornadoes and floods including cyclones Sidr (in 2007) and Ayla (in 2009).
2) The first passenger shed for bus passengers in Dhaka was developed in 1955 in front of the Press Club in Topkhana Road, Dhaka.
3) Tree plantation program is organised every year jointly with the Forest Department and the community. Thousands of trees/saplings are planted every year creating definite impact on the environment.
4) Low cost shelters have been developed throughout other Rotary Clubs.
5) A large number of income generation programs are undertaken every year by the Rotary Clubs under micro-credit and self-finance schemes in agriculture, fishery, poultry, cattle and goat farming. Besides programs are undertaken for distribution of rickshaws and rickshaw vans, etc. for income generation with especial focus on underprivileged people.
6)Special programs are undertaken for empowerment of women including skill development and literacy, awareness in hygiene and self-defence, distribution of sewing machine for income generation, etc.
