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 Meghalaya (Indian State) to the north, district to the south, Sylhet district to the east, and Netrokona district

to the west. The main rivers Photo credit: BRAC are Surma and Kushiyara. Microfinance village organisation meeting supervised by Sunamganj is famous for its integrated development program (IDP) held at . stone and sand business. It has been supplying river sand, through its informal schools. TUP 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 haors 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 its (HRLE) shebikas. CEP is building is the largest inland programmes at Sunamganj, such and strengthening community billabong located in this district. as microfinance, targeting the institutions to ensure socio-political ultra poor (TUP), 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 2,782 them, microfinance offers two education support, health and Primary schools 1,421 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 12 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 57 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 2015) Human rights and legal Microfinance education (HRLE) shebikas 743 HRLE graduates 49,786 Branches 39 Legal aid clinics 9 Village organisations 2,882 Members 52,855 Targeting the ultra poor Borrowers 48,343 Specially targeted ultra Progoti poor (STUP) member 6,046 Small enterprise clients 3,417 Other targeted ultra poor (OTUP) member 1,910 Health, nutrition Asset and training and population received 6,046 Health volunteers (shasthya shebika) 1,920 Water, sanitation Health workers and hygiene (shasthya kormi) 135 Committee members 9,613 Sanitation coverage 57% Community empowerment Loans for sanitary latrines 1,370 Community-based organisation Sanitary latrines installed (polli shomaj) 1,642 in school 450 Union-based organisation (union shomaj) 12 Skills development Popular theatre team 9 Numbe of master craft personns (MCPs) 90 Education Number of trades 18 Pre-primary schools 761 Number of graduate learners 195 Primary schools 393 Disabled learners 18 Adolescent development programme (ADP) Centres 483 Integrated development Community libraries Derai sub-district area (gonokendros) 47 Population covered 170,583

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 2015, is revised yearly and made available on www.brac.net/visitors.