Start Fund Bangladesh

07/06/2026

Dear Start Bangladesh Hub of 2028,

We are writing to you from a time of transition, hope, hard work and bold belief. Our mission today is clear: to cultivate a genuinely locally-led humanitarian ecosystem that is firmly rooted in Bangladesh, but seamlessly connected to a wider global network.

To our future allies, partners, and members: we hope the foundation we are building today provides the platform for you to lead locally rooted humanitarian action tomorrow.

The future starts with the work we do today.

Start Network

05/06/2026

A sincere thank you to our Start Bangladesh Hub members who represented the hub at Hub Connect 2026 in Istanbul.

Over the past few days, hub leaders from across the Start Network came together to discuss locally led humanitarian action, sustainable funding, shared learning, and stronger collaboration between hubs. We are pleased that Bangladesh's experiences, including our work with pooled funding and local leadership, were part of these important conversations.

Thank you to everyone who represented the hub and contributed to the discussions.

Start Network

01/06/2026

We are excited to have Dr. Mohammad Shahid Uz Zaman, Chair of Start Bangladesh Hub, representing Bangladesh at Global Hub Connect 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

We look forward to his engagement with global hub leaders and practitioners, as well as the valuable insights and perspectives members will share on the Hub’s work in strengthening humanitarian coordination and advancing innovative solutions in Bangladesh.

Start Network

ইএসডিও'র মাননীয় প্রতিষ্ঠাতা ও নির্বাহী পরিচালক ড. মোহাম্মদ শহীদ উজ জামান স্যার Global Hub Connect 2026-এ অংশগ্রহণের উদ্দেশ্যে তুরস্কের বিখ্যাত শহর ইস্তাম্বুল এ পৌঁছেছেন।

এই আন্তর্জাতিক প্ল্যাটফর্মে তাঁর অংশগ্রহণ ইএসডিও ও বাংলাদেশের প্রতিনিধিত্বকে আরও সমৃদ্ধ করবে।

24/05/2026

Alert B073 Activated: Nor'wester in Rangpur

On 18 May 2026, a sudden and severe Nor’wester (Kalboishakhi) storm, accompanied by strong winds and heavy rainfall, swept across several unions, municipalities, and char areas in Gaibandha District and parts of Lalmonirhat District in northern Bangladesh, with over 7,300 people affected.

The storm caused extensive damage to homes, standing crops, trees, and local infrastructure, disproportionately affecting vulnerable households living in fragile shelters and climate-exposed riverine char areas.

Yesterday, the Start Fund Bangladesh project selection committee convened and awarded the rapid response project to Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), Gana Unnayan Kendra GUk and SKS Foundation to support emergency response efforts and address the immediate humanitarian needs arising from the disaster.

All three agencies are currently providing support to affected and vulnerable communities through unconditional multi-purpose cash grants, enabling households to meet their most urgent needs with dignity and flexibility. In addition, conditional cash assistance is being provided to facilitate emergency shelter repairs for families whose homes were damaged by the storm. As part of the recovery and resilience-building efforts, tree plantation initiatives are also planned to help restore the local environment and reduce future climate-related risks.

19/05/2026

🇧🇩 ✨ Shaping the Future of Global Humanitarian Action: Start Bangladesh Hub joins Start Evolve 2.0! ✨

Over the last two days, the Start Bangladesh Hub secretariat and our member organisations came together for a critical, forward-looking workshop. We have officially stepped into Start Evolve 2.0, a global collective journey to morph Start Network for 2027 to 2040.

As a network of nearly 150 humanitarian organisations globally, Start Network's strength lies in the collective voice of its members, participants, partners and allies. The insights, local expertise, and strategic shifts discussed here in Bangladesh will directly contribute to shaping Start Network’s upcoming global roadmap.

A huge thank you to all our members for lending their voices, experience, and vision to this milestone consultation. Together, we are building a more resilient, proactive, and locally-driven humanitarian ecosystem for 2027, 2040, and beyond. 🌍💪

Start Network

12/05/2026

একসাথে কাজ করলে পরিবর্তন সম্ভব।

আমাদের NGO-MFI Resourced Pooled Fund-এর অফিসিয়াল উদ্বোধনে উঠে এসেছে ভবিষ্যতের নতুন সম্ভাবনা।

কি ঘটেছে সেই আয়োজনে? জানতে পড়ুন 👇

বাংলাদেশে স্থানীয়ভাবে পরিচালিত মানবিক অর্থায়ন ও দুর্যোগ মোকাবিলায় চালু হয়েছে এমএফআই রিসোর্সড পুলড ফান্ড।

12/05/2026

Yesterday, the official launch of the “NGO–MFI Resourced Pooled Fund” began a landmark initiative by Start Bangladesh Hub designed to revolutionise locally led disaster financing.

This innovative pooled fund, following the global Start Network’s Start Fund model, empowers national NGO-Microfinance Institutions to provide life-saving assistance within 72 hours of a crisis. By leveraging local MFI’s institutional surpluses, we are reducing dependency on international aid and putting strength back into the hands of local communities. The early participating national NGOs include Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) , National Development Programme - NDP,POPI and SKS Foundation.

The event was graced by our Chief Guest, Mr. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Member of Parliament and Honourable Minister, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives, who jointly inaugurated the policy approval alongside Professor Dr. Mohammad Helal Uddin, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA). We were also privileged to have the presence and insights of Dr. Zakir Ahmed Khan (Chairman, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation - PKSF), Mr. Md. Sayedur Rahman Khan (Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief), Dr. Md. Zakaria (Director General, NGO Affairs Bureau), Dr. Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman (Chair, Start Bangladesh Hub), and Christina Bennett (Chief Executive Officer, Start Network).

Our sincere gratitude goes to our members, humanitarian stakeholders and collaborators whose presence underscored a global commitment to local resilience: Matilda Svensson (First Secretary, Embassy of Sweden), Musawir Ahmed (Programme Manager – Humanitarian, British High Commission), Davide Zappa (Head of Office, DG ECHO) and Saikat Biswas (Partnerships Senior Officer, UNRCO).

Together, we are building a more resilient, dignified, and locally led future for humanitarian action in Bangladesh.

UK in Bangladesh Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete Microcredit Regulatory Authority

11/05/2026

11/05/2026

“We will keep the work going, one way or another.”

When funding cuts hit, Caritas Bangladesh's landslide early warning work in Teknaf, Bangladesh was suspended. With support from Start Network’s Solidarity Fund, activities were resumed, helping communities continue systems that protect people at risk of landslides.

This emergency funding enabled:

⚠️ Relaunch of the landslide early warning system
🏘️ Reappointment of core staff and reactivation of community volunteer groups
🌧️ Resumption of rainfall monitoring and early warning functions
📢 Awareness sessions, training, and community simulation drills

Communities continued engaging with the early warning system, showing strong ownership even during the disruption. Support from the helped restore momentum and provided the resources needed to carry the work forward effectively.

Learn more about their inspiring work: https://bit.ly/4wjtufx

Start Fund Bangladesh, IKEA Foundation