The crisis of clean water is a daily battle in the coastal towns of Bangladesh, which are struggling to cope with the pressure of climate change. The people of Asashuni, Mongla, and Patharghata face natural disasters such as salinity, drought, cyclones, and tidal waves every day. To bring a touch of relief to their lives and livelihoods, BRAC, in collaboration with Denmark, has launched a three-year project, ‘Rain for Life.’ This project will not only provide safe water but will also build a kind of climate resilience for people along the coast, with local people, especially women, at the center.
The official launch of the ‘Rain for Life’ project was announced at a workshop held at the BRAC Center in Dhaka on Tuesday (July 29). The project will provide safe water access and food security to more than 90,000 people in Asashuni in Satkhira, Mongla in Bagerhat, and Patharghata in Barguna.
It is learned that the main initiatives of the project include rainwater conservation at the household and community level, water purification and reuse of water bodies, climate-resilient agricultural practices and the expansion of the ‘Adaptation Clinic’ model, technology and financial support to women-led smallholder farmers, mangrove and native species plantations through the ‘Amar Bon’ model, and the involvement of climate action groups and youth.
Speaking as the chief guest at the event, Danish Ambassador Christian Bryks Moller said, “This project will ensure safe water not only for people but also for the environment, agriculture, and livestock. It is a symbol of Denmark’s trust and partnership in Bangladesh’s climate leadership.”
“The people most affected by the climate crisis are the ones most capable of adapting,” said Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC. “With Rain for Life, we want to turn that capacity into strength. Safe water and food security are inextricably linked. Our solutions must be integrated, sustainable, and locally driven.”
Planning Secretary Iqbal Abdullah Harun said, “There is no magic solution to the climate crisis. Adaptation is our main path. We are committed to expanding such projects through public-private partnerships.”
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Farhina Ahmed said, “Safe water is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right. People in the coastal areas have been deprived of it for a long time. The hard work that BRAC is doing at the field level is playing a role in restoring this right to us.”
Dr. Nazmun Nahar Karim, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, said, “Real adaptation is possible only when women are included not only as beneficiaries but also as decision-makers. Rain for Life is outlining that framework.”
Mongla farmer Zahidul Islam Bulbul said, “Salt water enters the land and destroys crops. Livestock also get sick due to lack of clean water. Now we are holding onto hope.”
Local women’s representative Shipra Halder said, “In our area, women collect water. Yet we are not called upon to make any decisions. We are the decision-makers in this project, and it gives us courage.”
Young representative Aiti Roy said, “We only hear stories of loss, but Rain for Life says we can also be part of the solution.”
Incidentally, 72,000 people were brought under the umbrella of safe water during the period 2022-2024 through the ‘Rain for Life’ project. Now, BRAC wants to move forward on a larger scale with that experience. Dr. Md. Liaquat Ali, Director of BRAC’s Climate Program, said, “This is not just water; it is a kind of platform where people, nature, and potential come together.”
