Bangladesh

Why are we in Bangladesh? Despite a reduction in poverty levels over the last few decades, Bangladesh still remains an under-developed country. There are still roughly 40 million people living in poverty and 20 million extremely poor. Bangladesh’s geographical location, land characteristics, rivers and climate also make it very vulnerable to natural disasters. Bangladesh furthermore remains vulnerable to food shortages.

Roughly a quarter of Bangladesh's population is suffering from extremely high rates of malnutrition

Bangladesh performs poorly on a range of inequality indicators and there remain major challenges in terms of gender equality. These include completion of education, access to jobs, access to sexual and reproductive health services, eliminating child marriage, intimate partner violence and other forms of gender-based violence.

The Government of Bangladesh is hosting approximately 723,000 Rohingya people who fled violence in Myanmar in what has become the world’s largest refugee camp. The area continues to struggle to host the ever-increasing Rohingya community.

Latest achievements

Emergency response

As part of our emergency response to the Rohingya crisis, we are delivering life-saving and preventative nutrition services. Our emergency nutrition team are screening over 49,500 children under five years of age every month in nine refugee camps. We are also responding to a devastating slum fire which took place in Dhaka by assisting 310 households with emergency aid.

Health care

Urban development discourse

Boli and Mohamud at Moynadhona refugee camp for Rohingya in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Members of the Concern emergency response team at Hakim Para refugee camp for Rohingya people in Bangladesh. Photo by Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Members of the Concern emergency response team at Hakim Para refugee camp for Rohingya people in Bangladesh. Phot: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Rina Begum (32) outside Fuljhar primary school, Bangladesh. Photo: Jennifer Nolan / Concern Worldwide.

Zafar serves food from his food cart, Bangladesh. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith / Concern Worldwide.

Arman receives cash for work outside Fuljhar primary school. Photo: Jennifer Nolan / Concern Worldwide.

Our proud history in Bangladesh

We have been fighting extreme poverty in Bangladesh since 1972. For over 45 years, we have worked with the most vulnerable people to reduce extreme poverty.

How we're helping Bangladesh

We are working hard to combat suffering and build resilience in Bangladesh. We are doing this by establishing programmes which will reduce poverty, respond to emergencies and improve health and nutrition.