With over 25 years of experience, Agrajattra advances women’s empowerment through leadership development, gender equality, and socio-economic opportunities for marginalized communities.
Key highlights:
Leadership and Gender Focus :
Agrajattra is a women-led and women-headed organization. Founder President/CEO Neelima Akhtar Chowdhury leads the organization with a strong commitment to gender sensitivity and inclusion for transformational change.
25 Years of Journey:
With a history crossing 25 years, Agrajattra has been dedicated to empowering women in the Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh. The organization has consistently implemented activities to uplift and support women in various aspects of their lives.
Comprehensive Empowerment Initiatives:
Agrajattra focuses on capacity building, providing legal support, and offering donations to address the multifaceted challenges faced by women. The organization enthusiastically creates job opportunities, particularly for those in vulnerable societal positions.
Inclusive Approach:
Agrajattra maintains a holistic and inclusive approach to its development activities by addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, the organization contributes to creating a more equitable and empowered society.
Founder's Vision:
Inspired by Neelima Akhtar Chowdhury’s vision, “AGRAJATTRA” stands as a beacon of women’s empowerment, striving to positively impact the socio-economic conditions of the marginalized and powerless in Bangladesh. Inspired by Neelima Akhtar Chowdhury’s vision, “AGRAJATTRA” stands as a beacon of women’s empowerment, striving to positively impact the socio-economic conditions of the marginalized and powerless in Bangladesh. levels of illiteracy and lack of skills, these women predominantly reside in rural areas, where their involvement in economic activities is limited. Hindered by gender inequality in remuneration and restricted access to opportunities, they find themselves on the sidelines of decision-making processes. Recognizing this dilemma, Neelima Akhtar Chowdhury, a prominent women leader in Chattogram, initiated the establishment of “AGRAJATTRA” in 1998. This non-profit, non-political, and non-governmental voluntary organization aims to empower women, particularly those engaged in labor, fostering self-reliance, and breaking the chains of inequality. AGRAJATTRA envisions comprehensive, people-centred development, acknowledging the skills, knowledge, and experiences of rural communities. With a commitment to love, trust, equal rights, and self-respect, the organization strives to create a holistic and eco-friendly development process. Inspired by Ms. Neelima Akther Chowdhury, “AGRAJATTRA” stands as a beacon of hope, addressing the socio-economic challenges faced by the powerless and suffering communities in the backward villages of Bangladesh.
Transformative Evolution: DYD Converts AGRAJATTRA into an NGO:
Following the completion of education, Neelima Akther Chowdhury was initially equipped by enrolling in a course in income-generating training offered by the Department of Youth Development, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Subsequent to the successful completion of these courses, she formed an organization for integrated social development in Chittagong & Cox’sbazar known as AGRAJATTRA. This organization, dedicated to enhancing women empowerment through the provision of hands-on skills in various trades for young people, was established on November 15, 1998, with a focus on assisting underprivileged youths in urban, suburban, and rural areas of Bangladesh, particularly in the Chittagong region, especially in Cox’sbazar.
To impart practical knowledge in trades such as hand-embroidery, machine embroidery, computer literacy, printing on readymade garments, cooking, and hairdressing, Neelima established a National Employment and Training Academy in Chittagong named ERECT, which operates as a sister concern of AGRAJATTRA. Currently serving as the Proprietor of this Academy, she provides skills development training to hundreds of unemployed individuals in these fields.
Her relentless efforts were duly recognized when she was awarded the National Youth Award 2005 by the Department of Youth Development, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Additionally, in 2007, both Neelima Akhter Chowdhury and the entire team of AGRAJATTRA were honored with the “Commonwealth Youth Silver Award 2006-07” By The Commonwealth Youth Programme, Asia Centre, Commonwealth Secretariat.
Furthermore, Neelima Akther Chowdhury and AGRAJATTRA achieved the 1st prize nationwide and were recently honored by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the Best National Youth Organizer Award – 2016, bestowed by the Ministry of Youth Development, Government of Bangladesh.