Bangladesh confers honor to Oxfam on their 40th anniversary

Kamini, Kasturi and Karabi- these three names are thought to be well familiar to the people who cross the river Padma through Doulatdia-Paturia (formerly Aricha) rout. Yeah, these three are the names of the three giant ferries. We have crossed Padma onboard these ferries for a countless times since the childhood, and have been doing so as of now. Though, this article is not the one about ferry.

Upon hearing Oxfam, once an inhabitant of the Padma coast exclaimed with surprise that Oxfam has been one of the best and largest naval manufacturers in the world.“ The way Kamini, Kasturi and Karabi- these three have been serving with efficiency since after the independence of Bangladesh, hence, if Oxfam wasn’t a good manufacturer, these ferries wouldn’t lust longer.”

It was Oxfam’s gift to the then newly independent Bangladesh government as a contribution to faster its reconstruction endeavors. The metal embossed Oxfam’s name and logo on the ferries still glare with pride and glory. And yes, we have to take something about Oxfam in Bangladesh. Recently Bangladesh and ‘Oxfam in Bangladesh’- the both have celebrated their 40 birth anniversaries. Though, in the global arena, Oxfam was born during the Second World War in 1942 and has been working since then. Oxfam put its visible steps in Bangladesh, then-East Pakistan since 1970 but had been contributing to then-East Pakistan since 1954 through its local implementing partner organisations.

Oxfam believes in rights based approach and reflects it in its work. And at the same time, Oxfam puts women’s rights at the heart of all of its work. In eradicating poverty and sufferings, Oxfam believes that each individual has her/his social, economical, and political rights as well as has the rights to humanitarian laws; and Oxfam works to establish and conserve these rights. Oxfam does not work only in the country contexts but also active in campaigning and advocating for global issues in international arena.

In Bangladesh, the then-East Pakistan, Oxfam started working in direct presence immediately after the devastating cyclone on the 12-13 November 1970 with life saving assistance to the cyclone victim people. In the beginning, Oxfam provided a large amount of GBP fund to CARE International in East Pakistan for immediate response. Immediately after, Oxfam and 3 other organisations collectively provided another large trench of GBP to carry out the relief activities. Oxfam Field Director at Ranchi arrived at Dhaka via Katmandu on the 19 November after a frustrating long delay in getting a tax clearance in India.

Later on, during the great liberation war in 1971, Oxfam contributed with more than one billion BDT (as per recent conversion rate). From the arrival till repatriation of the refugees, Oxfam worked 24/7 in the relief camps in West Bengal and Assam.

After the victory, in the newly independent Bangladesh, Oxfam continued to expand its activities. At that time, besides its direct work, Oxfam contributed in development of the small national level NGOs. A few of the then-small NGOs are namely as BRAC (currently world's largest NGO in every aspects), Proshika, and Gono Shasthya Kendra.

In addition to the relief operations, lately, Oxfam started working on sustainable development, and policy and campaign. Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood or CSRL in brief is the brainchild of Oxfam and Oxfam has been supporting with continuous and uninterrupted patronisation to the CSRL. Though, Oxfam was originally born in the UK, but it has now 14 independent affiliates who work individually and collectively. Currently Oxfam Hong Kong and Oxfam Netherlands are working in Bangladesh in addition to the Oxfam GB. Apart from the humanitarian work, in Bangladesh, Oxfam works on rights and leadership of indigenous population groups, women’s economic empowerment, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and advocacy, and numbers of other ongoing and contemporary issues.

Recently, Oxfam lead National Alliance for Risk Reduction Initiatives (NARRI) has launched a project to construct 11,092 family shelters along with latrines for the water logging victims in the South West of Bangladesh which is 60% if the real need. Besides, Oxfam has started advocacy initiative on reducing water logging and tidal river management in the same areas.

Recently, the Government of Bangladesh decided to confer honor to 129 foreign individual and organisation for their extraordinary contribution to the great liberation war of Bangladesh. Oxfam proudly stands in the list of 129. However, Oxfam, with the spirit of humanity, did not stand beside Bangladesh with a wish of recognition or honor.

Apart from Oxfam, a few other honored organistions are International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNHCR, World Peace Council (India), BBC and Akash Banee.

Sarah Ireland, the Regional Director of Oxfam Asia will formally receive the token of honor from the Bangaldesh Government on the 27th March 2012.

As a humanitarian and development activist, it is of my honor and pride for the honor and recognition to Oxfam and the other organisations. However, I think the Bangladesh Government, so the entire Bangladesh is the most proud party of it. They honored them, who deserve the honor in true sense.

To know more about Oxfam, please click at www.oxfam.org.uk www.oxfam.org

Courtesy (Oxfam Bangladesh publication): 40 Years of Bangaldehs, 40 Years in Bangladesh

Julian Francis, Oxfam's the then-Relief Programme Administratior for the Bangladeshi refugees has expressed his emotion and reflection. click to read- Receiving the Bangladesh freedom honour: some emotions and reflections

(Due to time constrain, photographs of some historical moment couldn’t be added. Shall add those soon)