CARE celebrates 75 years of presence in Bangladesh

CARE Bangladesh celebrated its 75 years of presence in Bangladesh in a national event at hotel in the capital on Monday.

The daylong celebration started off with national anthem and national flag raising, followed by speeches from guests and two panel discussions in the afternoon, says a press release.

Ram Das, Country Director of CARE Bangladesh, welcomed everyone and spoke about the rich history, present status, and future plans of the organization.

He said that officially starting in 1949 in present Bangladesh, CARE has been working as a trusted partner of Bangladesh Government for the development of Bangladesh over decades and played a pivotal role in rebuilding the newborn Bangladesh in 1971.

Guests and representatives from donor communities, development partners, stakeholders, and Bangladesh government joined the event as special guests.

The guests shared their experiences in the world of development and engaged in meaningful discussions that would inspire and guide development practitioners in building a better future.

Md Kamrul Hasan, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, attended the event as chief guest. He said, “Collaborating with the Ministry of Disaster Management, CARE Bangladesh has focused on emergency response and disaster risk reduction, contributing significantly to national plans.

The secretary said CARE projects, including flood preparedness and food-for-work initiatives, have been crucial in rebuilding the country and supporting vulnerable populations.

Michelle Nunn, President and CEO, CARE, wished everyone in a video message and said, “CARE's creativity and innovation have set the stage, set the standards and expectations for transformational work that has carried us forward and will continue to do so.”

Reed Aeschliman, Mission Director, USAID Bangladesh, said, his organisation is proud to partner with CARE on its remarkable journey.

“As development practitioners, we have a unique opportunity to pave the way for future generations—a vision achievable only through sustained partnership.” He said.

Md Saidur Rahman, Director General at NGO Affairs Bureau, said that since the 70s, CARE’s presence in communities in Bangladesh has been unmistakable, beginning with its landmark road construction initiatives.

“CARE’s work and its iconic vehicle continue to symbolise its longstanding commitment to development in Bangladesh,” he said.

In the afternoon, panelists discussed ‘Climate Resilience’ and ‘Sustainable future for Women in the RMG sector’ in two parallel sessions.

Ramesh Singh, CARE Regional Director for Asia, opened the event with a speech where he said, “Our ambition at CARE is to become a global network of poverty-fighting institutions, spreading our accomplishments from Bangladesh to the region and the world.”

CARE Bangladesh is currently working in the areas of health and nutrition, women and youth empowerment, humanitarian and climate action, with an aim to work in food and agricultural systems soon.

As a part of 2030 country program strategy, with four impact areas of gender equal, locally led, market-based approaches, and resilience building in focus, CARE Bangladesh aims to ensure that 15 million people in Bangladesh, especially women and girls, are leading gender equal and resilient lives by 2030.