MTB Foundation Creates Alternative Livelihood for Vulnerable Fishing Communities

MTB Foundation recently signed an agreement with Nazrul Smriti Sangsad-NSS for the project titled ‘Creating Alternative Livelihood for Vulnerable Fishing Communities through Income Generating Activities (IGAs)’. Under the agreement, MTB Foundation envisions to empower the female family members of the fishermen by creating alternative livelihood options through Income Generation Activities (IGAs) like duck farming, vegetable & homestead gardening, pond fish farming & crab culture, dry fish processing, small business and community food bank for 200 Households (HHs) of the vulnerable fishing community in Chardoani and Pathaorghata Sadar Union, Patharghata Upazila, Barguna District, Barishal Division.

The objective of the partnership is to support the Government’s initiative to increase fish production through uninterrupted breeding by separate fishing bans thrice a year in the interest of the national economy and, at the same time, ensure that the fishing community has an alternative source of income which will be driven by the women of the households; thus, contributing to women empowerment. MTB Foundation, through this project, intends to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life below Water).

The agreement was signed by Shahabuddin Panna, Executive Director, Nazrul Smriti Sangsad and Samia Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer, MTB Foundation in the presence of Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director & CEO, Md. Khalid Mahmood Khan, Deputy Managing Director & CBO, Rais Uddin Ahmad, Deputy Managing Director & CAMLCO, Md. Bakhteyer Hossain, Chief Operating Officer, Md. Shamsul Islam, Group Head of Treasury Division and Usman Rashed Muyeen, Head of Credit Risk Management Division of Mutual Trust Bank Ltd. (MTB) at a simple ceremony held at the Bank’s Corporate Head Office, Gulshan 1, Dhaka 1212. Among others, Md. Shahidul Islam, Program Director, Md. Aminul Islam, Legal Advisor from Nazrul Smriti Sangsad-NSS and Golam Rabbani, Associate, MTB Foundation were also present during the event.