The seven-month BRAC-implemented initiative will prioritise vulnerable families, damaged schools, homes, sanitation facilities, tube wells and livelihoods across flood-hit areas of Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar.
HSBC Bangladesh has announced a Tk 100 million grant to support the rehabilitation of people affected by recent floods in Bangladesh’s southeastern Chattogram division, with a seven-month programme covering housing, livelihoods, schools, safe water and sanitation.
The programme was inaugurated on August 30 at Chattogram Circuit House, where Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury was present as the chief guest.
Heavy rain, upstream water flows, landslides and prolonged waterlogging affected 10 districts in Chattogram division, leaving more than 1.04 million people affected. Thousands of homes, educational institutions, sanitation systems, water sources and croplands were damaged.
BRAC, a Bangladesh-based development organisation, will implement the rehabilitation programme with funding from HSBC Bangladesh. The programme will run for seven months, including six months of field-level work and one month for preparing the final report.
The initiative will focus on three priority areas: educational institutions, homes and livelihoods.
The programme will be implemented in the worst-hit areas of Ward No. 38 of Chattogram City Corporation, Satkania and Banshkhali upazilas in Chattogram district and Chakaria upazila in Cox’s Bazar district.
HSBC said 50 damaged schools would be repaired and renovated under the programme, while educational materials would be distributed among students. The initiative will also rebuild 250 damaged homes, repair and install 400 latrines and renovate 30 tube wells.
The programme will support 300 low-income families to restore their livelihoods. It will also provide essential agricultural inputs to 600 of the most vulnerable farming families.
Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh, said the bank’s responsibility was not limited to business.
He said that through its partnership with BRAC, the bank was committed to improving the living standards of the communities it works with.
Rahman said families would be supported to recover, while investment in housing, livelihoods and essential services would help strengthen their long-term capacity to cope with climate-related disasters.
Md Liaqat Ali, an official of the Climate and Environmental Innovation Programme under BRAC’s Disaster Risk Management Programme, said rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of affected families was essential alongside immediate humanitarian assistance after a disaster.
He said it was also important to strengthen their capacity and resilience to face future disasters.
The programme will give special priority to female-headed households, families with members with disabilities and elderly people. Pregnant and lactating mothers and other disadvantaged groups will also be covered.
HSBC said the initiative aims to strengthen long-term climate resilience and support sustainable development.
