Where We Work

Friendship’s key working areas comprise of some of the most remote and inaccessible chars and riverbank areas of Gaibandha and Kurigram district, which are situated in northern Bangladesh, as well as areas in the south including Bagerhat, Patuakhali and Barguna district.

Chars are low lying flood and erosion prone islets adjacent to major rivers. These are formed by the constant deposition of sand and silt and fragmentation. These nomadic islands are temporary due to constant erosion, caused by the powerful flow of adjacent rivers. Chars are one of two types: The first are semi-permanent and have life spans between 5-30 years and are continuously changing their shapes due to bank erosion. The second are even shorter lived with life spans between a few months to a few years. Many people chose to settle on these chars, despite the fact that they are flood and erosion prone, because they provide land for settlement and because the soil is very fertile.

Our work in the chars of the northern region was initiated because of the areas’ remoteness, inaccessibility, and due to a lack of services available there.  Working through a holistic development approach, our organization implements intensive programme activities with an aim to improve the overall socio-economic condition of the marginalised and vulnerable populace of these areas.

We started working in southern Bangladesh after the cyclone Sidr in November 2007.  Other than our regular work in our prime areas, we have also operated in Bogra, Jamalpur Sirajgonj, Tangail, Pabna and Pirojpur during disasters, emergency situations, and according to specific project needs.