Organization:Proshika

From HandWiki
Proshika
Founded1976
FocusEconomic self-reliance
Location
  • Bangladesh
MethodTraining, technical assistance, micro-credit, literacy, advocacy
Websitewww.proshika.org
Proshika building, Mirpur

Proshika (Proshika Centre for Human Development) is a Bangladesh-based organization. It was founded in 1976 by Dr. Qazi Faruque Ahmed. Proshika promotes self-reliance among the poor through a network of local organizations.[1] Major emphasis is placed on agriculture, forestry, health education, disaster management, advocacy, and literacy.[2] 12 million have been trained by Proshika.[1]

History

Dr. Qazi Faruque Ahmed established Proshika in 1977. Dr. Qazi Faruque Ahmed established Proshika to train and educate and increase social empowerment.[1] Muhammad Yahiya, one of the founders of Proshika, later left the NGO to establish Centre for Development Innovation and Practices.[3] The name comes from the Bengali words for training (proshikkhan), education (shikkha), and work (kaj).[1] Its headquarters in Mirpur were designed by Mubasshar Hussain.[4] The NGO had a 30-member general body which elects a nine-member governing body.[1]

On 19 April 2004, Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, laid siege to Proshikha headquarters demanding that the government cancel their NGO registration. They were led S. A. Khaleque, the local member of parliament and Ahsanullah Hassan, Mirpur Ward six Commissioner.[5] The next day workers of Proshika were arrested by law enforcement agents.[6] Bangladesh Nationalist Party government, which had come to power in 2001 had restricted foreign donations to Proshika.[7] Dr. Qazi Faruque Ahmed and David William Biswas of the NGO were arrested by Bangladesh Police in May 2004.[7]

On 24 May 2009, Dr. Qazi Faruque Ahmed was replaced as chairman of Proshikha by the governing body and replaced with M. A. Wadud.[8] The decision was upheld by the High Court of Bangladesh on 10 August.[8]

Dr. Qazi Faruque Ahmed was sentenced to one month imprisonment in January 2018 for violating the 2009 High court verdict.[8] He was told to had over the Proshika building in Mirpur to officials of Proshika and its new chairman advocate M. A. Wadud.[9][10] Ahmed had taken over the office building of the NGO through force and hired thugs.[9]

Empowerment through Law of the Common People organized a Human Rights school for law school students from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal at the Proshika HRDC, Koitta, Manikganj District.[11]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Shamsul Huda (2012), "Proshika", in Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal, Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.), Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Proshika 
  2. Proshika Manobik Unnayan Kendra (Bangladesh) - Qazi Khaze Alam, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/AC772E/ac772e03.htm 
  3. Express, The Financial. "A son of the soil" (in en). https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/a-son-of-the-soil-1598636601. 
  4. "Family to hand over architect Mubasshar Hussain's body to BSMMU today" (in en). https://www.newagebd.net/article/190761/family-to-hand-over-architect-mubasshar-hussains-body-to-bsmmu-today. 
  5. "Proshika HQ under Jubo Dal siege". The Daily Star. http://archive.thedailystar.net/2004/04/19/d40419012121.htm. 
  6. "Massive arrests ahead of Hawa Bhaban siege plan". The Daily Star. http://archive.thedailystar.net/2004/04/20/d4042001033.htm. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Fear of torture". https://www.amnesty.org/fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/asa130102004en.pdf. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Proshika ex-chair Qazi Faruque jailed for a month". https://www.theindependentbd.com/arcprint/details/134081/2018-01-24. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 "High Court sends ex-Proshika chairman Qazi Faruk to jail". 2018-01-23. https://archive.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/court/2018/01/23/ex-proshika-chairman-civil-jail. 
  10. Report, Star Online (2018-01-23). "Qazi Faruque jailed for one month" (in en). https://www.thedailystar.net/country/qazi-faruque-jailed-one-month-1523974. 
  11. Roy, Shanto Deb (2023-01-12). "Human Rights Summer School: An unconventional legal education model" (in en). https://www.thedailystar.net/law-our-rights/news/human-rights-summer-school-unconventional-legal-education-model-3219916.