Bangladesh
HelpAge International has worked in Bangladesh with our Affiliates and partners since 1991. Since then, HelpAge has worked in areas including emergency responses, disaster risk reduction, older citizen’s monitoring, access to rights, livelihoods and social pensions.
Life story: Shamsuddin, 72 and his wife Omela, 60
Shamsuddin, 72 and his wife Omela, 60 received a loan from HelpAge.
(c) HelpAge International
"From the beginning, my husband made bamboo crafts. Now we are old we live alone in a tiny home without work.
"My husband tried to get loans from neighbours but we spent most of the money on repaying our debts to others.
"Days were so difficult then. We did not have enough food and we could not visit the doctor.
"Last year we received a grant from HelpAge. We purchased two bamboo bushes and started to make large baskets to store rice for farmers.
"We sold these bamboo containers and we used all the money to invest further in our business.
"At this stage of life, we are now smiling again. We both even visited the doctor in a medical camp organised by HelpAge in our community. We have really found the light at the end of the tunnel."
Ageing in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Invest in older people from HelpAge International on Vimeo.
Supporting older people in Bangladesh
In the last year, we have worked to support older people in the following areas:
Livelihood and income security
- 1,215 older people from extremely poor households received over US$ 184,000 to support them in earning an income, through activities such as setting up their own businesses.
Emergency response and disaster risk reduction
- 2,000 older people in the South of Bangladesh received food, basic items and emergency medical care.
Rights
- A total of 50,000 people marched during the Age Demands Action campaign across 64 districts.
What next?
In the next 12 months, we will work towards:
- Achieving an approved national policy on ageing.
- Building capacity of around 525 older people's associations on organisation development and how to advocate their rights.
- Ensuring better social care for at least 2,500 older people through psychosocial support and home care among other things.
- Ensuring the continuation of awareness campaigns such as Age Demands Action and sensitising our partners, donors and civil society organisations to the needs of older people.
Our Affiliates
Bangladesh Women's Health Coalition (BWHC), Resource Integration Centre (RIC), Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM).
Our partners
Bangladesh Institute for Theatre Arts, Pidim Foundation, BOHUBRIHI.
