Good Neighbors Bangladesh Marks 30 Years of Community Development and Social Empowerment

By Mahbub Hasan Tutul, Dhaka, Bangladesh

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Good Neighbors Bangladesh, an international development organisation working to improve the lives of children, women, young people and marginalised communities, has marked its 30th anniversary with a ceremony at its headquarters in Dhaka.

The anniversary celebration, held on Tuesday, was organised under the theme “Empowerment, Innovation and Sustainability,” reflecting three decades of the organisation’s efforts in community development, social empowerment and humanitarian support.

The event was presided over by Bertin Gomez, Country Director of Good Neighbors Bangladesh.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Mohammad Zakaria, Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau, commended Good Neighbors Bangladesh for its contribution to community development, particularly its efforts to build partnerships, promote innovative approaches and earn the trust of local communities.

“Over the past 30 years, Good Neighbors Bangladesh has played an important role in building partnerships, promoting innovation and earning the trust of communities,” Zakaria said.

He also praised the organisation for maintaining its activities during periods of crisis and expressed optimism that it would continue to contribute to Bangladesh’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Md. Selim Fakir, Registrar and Director General of the Department of Cooperatives, stressed the importance of nurturing leadership and social responsibility among young people as part of efforts to build stronger and more resilient communities.

Gomez said Good Neighbors Bangladesh’s programmes focus on key areas including education, child protection, healthcare, livelihood development and climate resilience.

He added that the organisation remains committed to strengthening vulnerable communities and creating opportunities for people to improve their living conditions.

30 Years of Impact

Good Neighbors Bangladesh began its operations in the country in 1996 and currently implements 17 community development projects across 14 districts, according to the organisation.

It has about 350 employees working across its various programmes, with an annual budget of approximately $6 million.

The organisation said its programmes directly benefit about 21,000 children, 43,000 women and 2,000 young people.

Good Neighbors Bangladesh was also awarded the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize in 2024, while 26 women involved in its cooperative initiatives have received the Joyeeta Award, a national recognition for women’s achievements.

Anniversary Programme

The anniversary programme featured a documentary highlighting the organisation’s 30-year journey in Bangladesh, presentations on successful community initiatives, the unveiling of an anniversary publication, a cake-cutting ceremony and cultural performances.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Carol Flore-Smereczniak, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh; Youngsik Ahn, Director of Good Neighbors’ West Asia Regional Office; Dr. Md. Al Mamun, Civil Surgeon of Joypurhat; Md. Maruf Hasan, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Bochaganj; Professor Dr. Saiful Islam, Vice Chancellor of American International University-Bangladesh; and former Country Director Kyung Yub Lee.

The organisation said the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on three decades of service while renewing its commitment to sustainable development and community empowerment across Bangladesh.