Nagar Daridra Basteebashir Unnayan Sangstha (NDBUS)

On 23rd August 2009, Bryan Winston and Eric Adams arrived Dhaka to visit URBIS Capacity Building Support for NDBUS. During their stay, they visited and attened a number of activities going on as part of July - Decemeber Action Plan prepared by CUS-NDBUS. On 26th August Mr Bryan and Mr Eric met the NDBUS Members at CUS and shared urbis learning and experinces. They also attended the NDBUS EC meeting as special guest. The meeting was followed by Iftar where CUS General Secretery Dr Nurul Islam Nazem was also present. In the discussion, the visiting team of DIG who are presently stationed at India expressed their willingness to visit NDBUS frequently so that NDBUS can have more focused activities towards URBIS objective. NDBUS members welcomed their willingness and expected their greater support in fulfilling their goals. During their stay, the team also met the UPPRP at LGED, who have started the largest poverty reduction project in Korail, Dhaka.

On August 5, 2009 the evaluation of 5 members of NDBUS in Beauty Care Training was done in presence of the Project Adviser and SOSTA, Salma A. Shafi, URBIS Capacity Building Support for NDBUS in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 5 members received a month long 'on the job training' on skin and beauty care for which NDBUS finds possibility of a large number employment in future. NDBUS is presently working on developing a work plan on way to utilize the resources in earning and creation of employment opportunity for potential females among their members.

NDBUS is going to open its third Day Care Centre at Pallabi, Mirpur from the first week of August, 2009 to serve the need of working parents in Pallabi area who are primary committee members of NDBUS. Two other centres are run by NDBUS at Korail and Rayerbazar. These two centres are being financially supported by family members of Salma A. Shafi and some CUS members. Management NDBUS runs the day care centres with advisory support from URBIS Project Adviser Salma A. Shafi. Day care centres have been set up within the slum area, close to the children’s home and are taken care of by female teachers. Main meals of the children are provided by their parents while the program provides snacks (Banana, Bread, Milk, Seasonal Fruits etc.). They are taught with pre-school lessons on alphabets, counting, learning rhymes etc. following a daily routine. NDBUS Executive Committee member Ms Fatema Akhter has been looking after the centres as Coordinator, Day care centre. Number of Children Korail Day...

The pictures say all the sufferings! Photo credit goes to Harald Sterly (University of Cologne) and Asadul Islam (CUS).

A three day conference was held in ABIDJAN, capital of Cot d'Ivoire on 3-5 June with participants from Angola,Brazil,Kenya,Morocco,Vietnam,Bangladesh and the host country Cot d'Ivoire. Representtaive from Bill and Melinda Gates foundation was also present during the three day conference. A study tour to visit a project area in Abidjan where bnted is working was also included in the conference schedule beside presentation and discussions of respective country. Salma A. Shafi, Project Adviser and SOSTA in Dhaka and Mehedi Imam, URBIS Coordinator in Dhaka presented Dhaka to the conference.

A meeting to pray for late Mr. Mannan, Chairperson of Nagar Daridro Basteebashir Unnayan Sangstha (NDBUS) was held at the T&T mosque, Korail on 20 th May, 2009 after Asar’s Prayer (in the afternoon). URBIS Project Advisor Salma A. Shafi; Architect Khadem Ali, Vice Chairman of Centre for Urban Studies (CUS) were present in the gathering. Different NGO officials along with members from different committees of NDBUS and his relatives & well-wishers were also present in the prayer session to pray for his eternal peace.Earlier, URBIS team in Dhaka laid down floral wreath at the grave on behalf of DIG.

Mr M A Mannan, Chairperson of Nagar Daridra Basteebashir Unnayan Sangstha (NDB US) d ied on 17 May 2009 at 1530 hrs at National Heart Foundation hospital following a cardiac failure. He has been laid to rest at Banani graveyard. He left his wife, daughter and two sons, thousands of well wishers, colleagues, friends, and relatives to mourn his sudden and untimely demise. Mr Mannan dedicated his life for the urban poor and was an advocate for establishing rights of the poor people living in slums and squatters; and lobbied at different levels of government and non-government activities. He was the founder chairperson of Basteebashir Odhikhar Surrakkha Committee (BOSC) formed in 1999 to protest slum eviction of the then government. In 2008 the organization became regist ered under Dhaka Social Welfare Office as Nagar Daridra Basteebashir Unnayan Sangstha (NDBUS). During his lifetime of work for the urban poor, he closely worked with Centre for Urban Studies (CUS), Coaliti...