The insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts deteriorated rural infrastructure and disrupted lives and livelihoods of the rural population in Bangladesh. At the time of the peace accord in 1997, per capita income was about 40% below the national average. The literacy rate was lower than the national average and the population had less access to education. Availability of health services, water supplies, and sanitation systems were poor with over 80% of households using open latrines or open spaces. Communication and transport were underdeveloped with less than 5% of roads paved, and almost 90% of households with little or no access to vehicle transport. A large percentage of the farming community did not have secure rights to land use, and suffered from seasonal food insecurity. A weak institutional support system was unable to address the needs of the rural poor, landless, and tribal population.
This report validates the completion report's assessment of the project which aims to improve income and increase job opportunities for target beneficiaries, especially tribal population and women in Bangladesh. IED overall assessment: Successful