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The COVID-19 related death toll in Bangladesh passed 6640 by the first week of December. A recent spike in cases has increased concerns over a possible second wave of COVID-19 during winter. Many restrictions have been lifted by the government, but face masks and social distancing continue to be required in public areas. The country is also dealing with the effects of its worst flood in a decade, which left half a million people homeless. Authorities reported thousands of cases of waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea and skin diseases, in the flooded coastal region. Half of the population is now food insecure, meaning they lack consistent access to enough safe and nutritious food to live a healthy life.
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Thank you for praying for children and families in Bangladesh who have been impacted by COVID-19—and the local staff who continue to serve them in difficult circumstances.
In the northern villages of Bangladesh, the communal pond is a favourite for locals who use its waters to wash clothes, water rice fields and bathe cattle. And for teens such as 15-year-old Basudeb, it’s the only spot to take a dip with friends to find relief from the roasting heat. But since the COVID-19 pandemic hit and social distancing became essential, accessing the once popular communal pond proved to be risky. Read more open_in_new
Please note: Due to the current pandemic, most child development centres in Bangladesh are temporarily closed. Local partners continue to meet the urgent needs of the children through home-based care.
Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.
Compassion assisted children in Bangladesh typically attend program activities at their local child development centre before school and occasionally on Saturdays. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Bangladesh.
8:00am – A time for songs, games and introductions.
10:30am – Break time, when children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships.
11:00am – Social-emotional lessons ranging from conflict resolution to developing healthy self-esteem. Children often come from challenging home environments and are taught social and personal skills.
12:00pm – Lunch and social time. Children generally receive a meal five days a week. The meals typically consist of rice and lentils with vegetables, fish, eggs, chicken or potatoes.
1:00pm – Health lessons, in which children learn practical health and hygiene lessons.
2:00pm – Letter writing and career planning. Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests and set goals for their future.
Children are also encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, such as singing, dance, drawing and drama. Children play outdoor games such as football, cricket and volleyball. Parents of Compassion assisted children meet once a month to learn a variety of topics.
of people live below the poverty line
of people lack access to improved sanitation
of people over 15 cannot read or write
Formerly East Pakistan, Bangladesh was born out of conflict in the region and founded in its modern form in 1971.
A predominantly Muslim nation, it’s one of the world’s most densely populated countries, with more than 160 million people living in a land area roughly two-thirds the size of Victoria. Most of the land is low-lying delta and is vulnerable to flooding. Bangladesh is also regularly affected by tropical storms and heavy monsoonal rain that contributes to these flood events.
Most of the population relies on farming to make a living, with agriculture accounting for almost half of the country’s economy. Major crops include rice, jute and tea. Farming is growing increasingly difficult as rising seas destroy farmland in low-lying areas, inundating and salting the land and making it unfit for crops.
In recent years, urban areas—especially Dhaka, the capital—have experienced a population surge as many rural communities have found life increasingly difficult in their hometowns.
This has led to the growth of urban slums around major cities, as families come looking for safer ground on which to build a home and the prospect of work to build a life. But in these slums, children are more vulnerable to malnutrition, child labour, child marriage, violence, abuse, poor sanitation and pollution.
Despite a government focus on education and healthcare in recent years, the poorest families struggle to get access to the classroom or to a doctor. Around 15 per cent of the population lives in extreme poverty (less than US$1.90 per day) and around 85 per cent live on less than US$5.50 per day.
Yet local partners are at work, serving the children of their communities and sharing a hope more powerful than poverty.
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