Located in the north-east of , lies under division, and has an area of 3,670 square kilometres. The district is bordered by Khasia and Jaintia hilly area of (Indian State) to the north, district to the south, to the east, and district

to the west. The main rivers BRAC Photo credit: are Surma and Kushiyara. Microfinance village organisation meeting supervised by integrated Sunamganj is famous for its development program (IDP) held at Derai. stone and sand business. It has been supplying river sand, through its informal schools. UPG Sunamganj is a tourist destination natural sand, crushed stone, focuses on tackling extreme poverty for many domestic tourists since in multiple fronts. HRLS serves the it has more and beels gravel and shingle since 1960. disadvantaged community through (wetlands ecosystems) than any its human rights and legal education other district in Bangladesh. BRAC operates the majority of (HRLE) shebikas. CEP is building Tanguar is the largest inland its programmes at Sunamganj, and strengthening community billabong located in this district. such as microfinance, ultra poor institutions to ensure socio-political graduation (UPG), health, nutrition empowerment of poor people. IDP and population (HNPP), education works at Derai sub-district, tackling (BEP), community empowerment the various dimensions of poverty General information (CEP), human rights and legal in haors (shallow land depressions aid services (HRLS), integrated in north-eastern Bangladesh Population 2,467,968 development (IDP) and skills subject to yearly flooding). It offers development programme. Among Unions 87 livelihood training and support, Villages 2,887 them, microfinance offers two education support, health and Primary schools 856 types of loans – dabi (microloan) sanitation support, and legal aid Literacy rates 35% and progoti (enterprise loan). support. BRAC’s new initiative, the HNPP provides health education skills development programme, is Hospitals 22 through health volunteers (shasthya providing holistic skills development Banks 90 shebika) and health workers training and decent employment Bazaars 216 (shasthya kormi). BEP identifies opportunities to enable young NGOs 30 children from marginalised families women and men to realise their full and provides basic education potential.

www.brac.net At a glance Human rights and legal aid services (as of December 2018) Human rights and legal education (HRLE) shebikas 280 Microfinance HRLE graduates 776 Branches 32 Legal aid clinics 4 Village organisations 3,716 Members 205,165 Ultra poor graduation Borrowers 78,348 Group-1 Members 74 Progoti Group-2 Members 1,881 Small enterprise clients 5,600 Asset and training received 1,881 Healthcare availed 154 Health, nutrition Group-3 Members 1,519 and population Asset and training received 1,519 Healthcare availed 124 Health volunteers (shasthya shebika) 560 Health workers Water, sanitation (shasthya kormi) 56 and hygiene Committee members 13,089 Community empowerment Sanitation coverage 55% Community-based Loans for sanitary latrines 46 organisation (polli shomaj) 116 Sanitary latrines installed Union-based organisation in school 5 (union shomaj) 10 Deep tubewells installed 187 Popular theatre team 4 Skills development Education Number of graduate learners in Pre-primary schools 110 STAR 638 Primary schools 256 Adolescent development programme (ADP) Centres 211 Community libraries (gonokendros) 37

Although every effort has been made to include and verify the accuracy of relevant information in this fact sheet, users are urged to check independently on matters of specific interest. Report any discrepancies/suggestions to [email protected]. This document was last updated on 31 December 2018, is revised yearly and made available on www.brac.net/visitors.