Dhaka: HSBC Bangladesh has committed Tk 10 crore to support the recovery and rehabilitation of communities affected by the recent flash floods in Chattogram Division. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury formally inaugurated the initiative at an event held at Chattogram Circuit House today, said a press release.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, under the philanthropic initiative, HSBC Bangladesh will provide financial support to BRAC to implement a seven-month recovery and rehabilitation programme aimed at helping vulnerable flood-affected households rebuild their homes, restore livelihoods, rehabilitate schools, and improve access to safe water and sanitation. The recent floods, triggered by persistent heavy rainfall and upstream runoff, caused widespread flash flooding, landslides, and prolonged waterlogging across 10 severely affected districts, impacting more than 1.04 million people.
Thousands of homes, schools, sanitation facilities, water sources, and agricultural lands were damaged, leaving many families in need of long-term recovery support. The programme will cover six months of field implementation followed by one month of reporting and project close-out. The initiative will focus on three key areas-schools, households, and livelihoods-in Ward No. 38 of Chattogram City Corporation, Satkania and Banshkhali upazilas of Chattogram district, and Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar district.
Under the programme, 50 flood-damaged schools will be repaired and rehabilitated, while learning materials will be distributed among affected students. The project will also repair or reconstruct 250 flood-damaged houses, 400 household latrines, and 30 damaged tube wells. Besides, livelihood restoration support will be provided to 300 of the most vulnerable households, while need-based agricultural inputs will be provided to 600 vulnerable farming households.
HSBC Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer Md Mahbub ur Rahman stated, "At HSBC, our responsibility goes beyond business to uplift the communities we serve. Through our partnership with BRAC, we are investing in homes, livelihoods, and critical services to help families recover and build lasting resilience against climate challenges."
BRAC Director of Disaster Risk Management Programme (DRMP), Climate and Environmental Innovation Programme (CEIP), Md Liakath Ali, PhD, emphasized the importance of rebuilding lives and livelihoods while strengthening resilience to future disasters. The project aims to restore homes, access to safe water and sanitation, livelihoods, and education-related infrastructure for flood-affected communities in the Chattogram region.
Bangladesh Bank Director Swarup Kumar Chowdhury, Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Ziauddin, and Chattogram Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah attended the event as special guests. The programme will prioritise women-headed households, families with persons with disabilities, older persons, pregnant and lactating women, and other vulnerable groups.
The initiative seeks to support affected communities through long-term, climate-resilient solutions and sustainable development through partnerships among the government, private sector, and development organisations.