Mr. Gerrit de Vries, Program Director of Liliane Fonds (Donor), visits to Observe JSUS Project Activities

Mr. Gerrit de Vries, Program Director of Liliane Fonds (Donor), visits to Observe JSUS Project Activities

Date: April 15, 2026 | Venue: Banshkhali Upazila, Chattogram

A high-level delegation conducted a field visit on April 15, 2026, to observe the ongoing activities of the EIEI and MAP-Inclusive Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) projects in Banshkhali Upazila. These projects are funded by Liliane Fonds (LF), Netherlands, and implemented by Jugantar Samaj Unnayan Sangstha (JSUS), with technical support from the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD).

The delegation comprised Mr. Gerrit de Vries, Program Director of Liliane Fonds; Mr. Nazmul Bari, Executive Director of CDD; Mr. Rezaul Alam, Senior Coordinator-CDD; Mr. S. M. Ali Hasnain Fatme, Program Manager -CDD  of LF Supported Program; Ms. Yeasmin Parveen, Executive Director of JSUS; Mr. Saidul Arefin,  Management Advisor, and Director of JSUS; and Mr. Ariful Islam, Assistant Director of JSUS.

The project staff welcomed the delegation with flowers. Following the welcome, an introductory session was held. Mr. Ariful Islam delivered a detailed presentation on the project activities. A brief open discussion took place thereafter, after which the delegation proceeded to visit the field-level activities.

The delegation visited the “Surjomukhi Caregiver Resource Center (CRC),” operated by JSUS at South Buramchhara under 1 no. Pukuria Union. There, they interacted with the mothers of 15 children and youth with disabilities. During the discussion, the delegation explored the rationale behind the establishment of the CRC, the key benefits received by its members, future plans, and the agenda of the regular monthly meetings. The participants shared detailed impacts from the various supports they had received through the CRC and highlighted the positive changes in the physical, mental, and social conditions of their children and their families.

The delegation subsequently visited the home of a child with disabilities who had received assistive devices and home modification support from the project. They discussed with the child’s mother the improvements observed as a result of these interventions.

Subsequently, the delegation attended a stakeholder meeting at the Officers’ Quarter in Banshkhali. The meeting was presided over by Md. Ariful Islam, Assistant Director -SDP of JSUS and attended by various key stakeholders like Dr. Saiful Amin, Residential Medical Officer of the Upazila Health Complex; Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid, Upazila Primary Education Officer; Mr. Selim Uddin, Instructor at the Primary Teachers’ Training Center; Mr. Amjad Hossain, Upazila Social Services Officer; Dr. Supon Nandi, Upazila Livestock Officer; Mr. Shyamal Chandra Sarkar, Upazila Agriculture Officer; Mr. Showkotuzzaman, Upazila Youth Development Officer; Mr. Md. Shahidullah, Head Teacher of Banshkhali Model Government Primary School; Mr. Shankar Prasad Das, Head Teacher of Banshkhali Government Primary School; Ms. Shibani Das, Health Inspector; Mr. Moinul Ahmed Sagar and Ms. Nasima Akter, Health Assistants; CHCP Mr. Abdul Kader and Mr. Helal Uddin; UP Member Md. Ejaj of Sadhanpur Union Parishad; Agriculturist Md. Mostafa from Dishari Camp, and Mr. Md. Yasin, President of the Self-Help Organization of Persons with Disabilities. They have shared details of how they supported Persons with disabilities, what challenges, and the future recommendations.