Bangladesh is a developing nation in Southeast Asia and is home to over 166.5 million people—of whom more than 18.3% live below the poverty line. Among the most vulnerable are women and children, especially in remote regions like Khulna and Bagerhat, in the disaster-prone southwestern coastal belt. This area has faced repeated devastation from at least five major natural disasters over the past few years- including cyclones Sidr, Aila, Amphan, and Reshmi—exacerbating an already precarious socio-economic landscape. Its geographical distance from the capital, Dhaka, coupled with fragile infrastructure and unreliable communication networks, further isolates the region from national growth and support.

Natural calamities and economic neglect have created a cycle of hardship for the people of Khulna. The lack of access to quality education and reliable data makes it difficult to assess the ground realities and implement effective solutions. Despite having significant potential—Khulna hosts the country’s second-largest seaport—unchecked deindustrialization has led to the closure or downsizing of at least 230 industries over the past two decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has only deepened this crisis, hitting the already underemployed urban and peri-urban populations the hardest.

In an attempt to combat tidal surges and boost agricultural productivity, the government initiated the Coastal Embankment Project (CEP) in the 1960s. However, this intervention has had unintended ecological consequences. One of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems has suffered from chronic water-logging and drainage congestion, severely damaging traditional agriculture and local livelihoods. Additionally, indiscriminate shrimp farming has introduced saline water into fertile lands, rendering much of the agrarian soil barren.

Since 1988, local social activists have mobilized to raise awareness and offer solutions—financial, technical, and emotional—to these persistent challenges. Their vision was to create a structured, legally recognized organization to secure access to safe water and sanitation, protect biodiversity, promote human rights, and eliminate illiteracy and harmful social practices. From this movement, RUSTIC was born—a voluntary social development organization dedicated to empowering the marginalized. RUSTIC works with the poorest members of the community, regardless of race, caste, or creed, to foster integrated development and uplift lives economically, socially, and culturally.

Founded in 1989, RUSTIC (Rural Unfortunates Safety Talisman Illumination Cottage) has grown from a grassroots initiative into a leading development organization in the South-West coastal belt of Bangladesh. We focus on waste-to-resource models, vocational education, gender equity, and climate-resilient development. With deep community roots, our programs reflect local priorities and values.

RUSTIC is an organization dedicated to improving lives through education, sustainable development, and environmental action. Based in greater Khulna, our work spans urban and rural contexts, addressing poverty, displacement, and disaster vulnerability.