Message From Executive Director
Moral Noor Mohammad
Founder & Executive Director
Ashoka Fellow (USA) • HSBC Climate Hero Bangladesh
RUSTIC (Rural Unfortunates Safety Talisman Illumination Cottage), established in 1988, is a voluntary national development organization rooted in the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh. Guided by our founding philosophy — “A Non-Stop Fight Against Poverty and Climate Change” — we have pioneered decentralized solid waste composting in Khulna City Corporation, protected indigenous snail biodiversity, built sustainable rainwater harvesting facilities, and provided literacy and vocational skills for marginalized adolescent girls. Together with local communities and national and global partners, we continue our dedicated mission to achieve environmental resilience, social justice, and dignified human development. Read More >>>
Human Resource
43
Total Staff
24
Male Staff
19
Female Staff
12
Volunteers
07
Male Vol.
05
Female Vol.
Contact for Admin, HR and Complaint
For Admin
+880 1712-076267
rustickln.bd@gmail.com
For HR
+880 1712-076267
hr@rusticbd.org
For Complain
+880 1712-076267
complaint@rusticbd.org
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About RUSTIC — Background, Philosophy, Vision & Mission
Background of the Organization
Bangladesh is a developing country in south-east Asia with a population of over 148 million. Over 47 million of these people are living below the poverty line, the most vulnerable of which being the women and children. The Khulna region, including Bagerhat, is located in the remote south-western part of the country. The disaster prone coastal area has endured at least five major or large scale natural disasters within last 15 years, including Sidr, Aila, Amphan and Reshmi—all taking place in the last decade. It also stands at a distance from the major economic center of Dhaka. The infrastructure is poor and communication can at times be treacherous.
As a result, the region is vulnerable to socio-economic challenges. Disasters, both natural (the environment) and man-made (the economy) are the root causes of the issue. Lack of education and absence of comprehensive data means that these problems are compounded in terms of deciding the ground reality and set correct course of action.
Despite enormous possibilities (Khulna is the second largest sea-port in the country), rampant and non-stop de-industrialization adds fuel to the worst case scenario. At least 230 large and small industries shut down or called lay-offs in the region in last two decades. COVID-19 has worsened an already fragile situation to say the least. This dealt a heavy blow to an already under-employed population, especially for the urban or peri-urban populations.
Attempts to increase the agricultural yield and protect human settlements from cyclone and tidal surge embankments led to the construction of the Coastal Embankment Project (CEP). Yet since the 1960s, this government intervention has had an adverse impact on one of the most complex and biologically productive ecosystems in the world; almost permanent drainage congestion and water logging have endangered traditional agriculture and livelihood in the region. Moreover, much of the agrarian land is becoming permanently or partially barren because of saline water due to indiscrete cultivation of so-called shrimp and shrimp-fish polycultures.
Since 1988, social activists began raising awareness, giving suggestions and providing financial, technical and mental support in order to find a possible solution to the population’s problems. They intended to establish a formal, legal and workable organization to ensure safe water and sanitation, conserve bio-diversity, enhance human rights, and eradicate illiteracy, superstition, and the hypocrisy of religious fundamentalism from the society. Therefore, RUSTIC emerged as a voluntary social development organization for the helpless to establish themselves financially, socially and culturally. RUSTIC targets the poorest of the community irrespective of race, cast or creed for an integrated development.
Our Vision
RUSTIC’s vision is an equitable and just society facilitated through self will and empowerment; it seeks to create a dignified and poverty free society that would make no distinction to race, color or creed.
Our Mission
“Poverty alleviation is well-known to the poor — only assistance is required.”
It is essential to mainstream sustainable development to the backward, deprived, vulnerable, and affected men, women and children.
Our Philosophy
Bangladesh is not a poor country by tradition and instead is a treasure trove for agricultural resources. Despite this fact, it is considered to be one of the poorest nations in the developing world. Natural disasters, lack of formal education, slow industrialization, and lack of democracy translates into people having little voice in the governance of their own country. The dream of building an egalitarian society is gradually fading away.
It is time to find an effective way to give hope for the survival and development of the left out majority. RUSTIC has emerged to instill this dream into the left out majority. It is a non-profit and non-government volunteer organization that works towards socio-economic and environmental development and bio-diversity conservation in Bangladesh.