Bogra Bogra, known as ‘Pundra Bardhan’ in ancient times, is one of the oldest towns in northern Bangladesh, situated on the bank of the famous river Karatoya. This historic city is mostly popular for the old archaeological sites like Mahasthangarh, Behularbashorghor, Nawab Palace (called Neelkuthi during the British period), etc. Photo credit: BRAC/M N I Chowdhury

This district also represents north Bengal’s vibrant cultural BRAC Maize Processing Center, Bogra, BRAC’s agriculture research centre develops the best maize varieties suitable for the local environment. attractions such as Baul, Marfati, Lalon and Sufi music. It is also the hub of northern Bangladesh because of its utmost importance core programme that is also regarding trade and commerce running successfully in Bogra General information for the region. BRAC runs some district. This programme is a of its core programmes such as combination of preventive, curative, Population 3,539,294 microfinance, education, health, rehabilitative and promotional water, sanitation and hygiene, Unions 108 health services which focus on Villages 2,618 among others, in Bogra district. improving maternal, neonatal and Children (0-15) 50,440 Of them, microfinance is the child health (IMNCS), as well as Primary schools 455 largest programme, offering two combating communicable diseases types of loans – dabi (microloan) and common health problems, Literacy rate 52.4% and progoti (enterprise loan) with which form the key component Hospitals 8 around 200,000 members and of essential healthcare. Another Number of NGOs 122 100,000 borrowers. On the other core programme is BRAC WASH Banks 25 hand, BRAC Education programme which mainly deals with water Bazaars 21 stands as the second largest and sanitation services. In Bogra programme in the Bogra district. district, BRAC WASH programme Under the education programme, has an outstanding achievement BRAC runs around 500 schools, an of 86 per cent sanitation coverage innovative adolescent development by installing sanitary latrines in programme, gonokendros the schools. Apart from these (community libraries) etc. The mentioned programmes, BRAC main purpose of BRAC Education also runs human rights and is to assist the government to legal aid services, community achieve Education for All (EFA) empowerment and agriculture and Millennium Development and food security programmes Goals (MDG) by the year 2015. successfully. BRAC Health, Nutrition and Population programme is another

www.brac.net At a glance Water, Sanitation and Hygiene As of December, 2014 Sanitation coverage 86% Sanitary latrine Microfinance installed in schools 1,236 Branches 62 Village organisations 3,527 Human Rights and Members 215,595 Borrowers 98,752 Legal Aid Services Progoti HRLE shebikas (small enterprise clients) 8,964 (including odhikar shebikas) 583 HRLE course completed 5,349 Tenant Farmers’ Development HRLE graduates 1,249,998 Project No of legal aid clinics 16 No of VOs 979 Cases filed Population covered 20,547 (civil and criminal) 1,757 Complaints resolved 3,333 Education Pre-primary schools 221 Agriculture and Primary schools 299 FoodSecurity Adolescent development Agricultural extension programme (ADP) 190 programme Gonokendros 66 Population covered 16,437 Health, Nutrition Name of technologies/ Crops introduced to the area and Population Hybrid paddy, Health volunteers 2,507 Vegetable, Health workers 245 Sunflower, Health centres 5 Carp fish

Community Empowerment Social Enterprise Poultry 1 Polli shomaj 307 Union shomaj 26 Popular theatre team 13

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 2014, is revised yearly and made available on www.brac.net/visitors.