Bangladesh

Context at a glance

60 year old Shulata, with her grand daughter Shuponorna and grandson Maxwell. "This house is important to the family because it makes us proud to own our house."

Bangladesh is very flat, low lying and subject to annual cyclones and flooding - even in major cities. Flooding brings diseases such as cholera and dysentery and contaminates water resources. For poor Bangladeshis, flooding is one more burden.

The country is one of the world's poorest and least developed. With a population of some 140 million people, Bangladesh is also one of the most densely populated countries.

Half of all Bangladeshis are classified as living below the poverty line. Poverty also means a lack of decent housing. Too many families rely on inadequate and unhealthy shelter lacking basic sanitation and safe water.

Habitat for Humanity programme

Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh began in 1999 with the formation of the Mymensingh affiliate, about 120 km. north of the capital Dhaka. There are now five affiliates: Durgapur, Haluaghat Jessore, Kaligonj and Mymensingh. HFH Bangladesh uses the "Building in Stages" concept, which allows a family to extend their home once the initial mortgage has been repaid. A core two-room house measures between about 13.5 and 20 square metres. Homeowner repayments average £4 a month.

HFH Bangladesh also has savings groups, made up of 10-12 families, who save together in order to build and buy their own homes. In September 2004, HFH Bangladesh signed an agreement with the local offices of World Vision and World Concern to introduce "Save and Build" to families they work with who need decent housing. Habitat is initially working with four World Vision groups in Savar and Sathkira and two World Concern groups in Brhamnbaria.

Land is at a premium in Bangladesh, but many families do own a plot of land on which to build their house. Building materials vary according to what is available to the region. Corrugated metal sheeting is used for roofing. Building a house takes up to three weeks.

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