Bangladesh, as a low-lying country along the Bay of Bengal, is one of the nations most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Each year, its citizens face increasingly severe climate disasters such as cyclones, floods and saltwater intrusion, all of which affect their agriculture-based livelihoods. On a societal level, Bangladeshi women have a low social status and gender-based violence is widespread; more than half of Bangladeshi girls are married before the age of 18, thus forgoing their education. Children from impoverished families are also often deprived of learning opportunities, as parents usually expect them to work to support the family. As a predominantly Muslim nation, Christians account for only 0.3 per cent of the population, and local churches are typically small and lack biblical knowledge and resources.
We support disaster risk reduction work in the disaster-prone coastal areas in the south, mobilising locals to form disaster management committees and training them to cultivate crops that remain productive under climate change, as well as to develop livelihoods beyond agriculture. With regard to issues such as child marriage, child labour and gender-based violence, we back local leaders in educating and advocating for the rights of women and children, particularly those with disabilities residing in the slums of Dhaka, the capital. We also support local churches and community involvement in providing vulnerable children with quality, accessible and comprehensive primary education, especially in rural areas.
