In the serene yet remote hills of Bonjugichara Union in Jurachari, Rangamati, life has always followed a simple rhythm. The indigenous women here seldom ventured beyond the lush green hills. However, dramatic changes have swept through their home over the past decades – a direct consequence of climate change. Once lush landscapes are now barren; streams that teemed with fish have dried up; and shifting cultivation, which once yielded plentiful harvests, can no longer support their families.
Faced with growing desperation and increasing debts, the community struggled to survive. Many resorted to boiling jungle potatoes as a staple. However, in September 2023, hope emerged with the launch of the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC) Project in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Initially met with skepticism, the project gradually gained the community’s trust through its methodical beneficiary selection and verification processes and regular, inclusive community meetings.
A significant breakthrough was achieved when the LoGIC Project facilitated the opening of bank accounts for the women of Bonjugichara. For many, this was their first introduction to the formal banking sector. Setting up the bank accounts was challenging – involving a two-day trek through rugged terrain to the nearest Upazila headquarters to collect banking forms.
Despite their illiteracy and unfamiliarity with formal banking processes, the women successfully opened their accounts with the help of the project’s dedicated Community Mobilization Facilitators (CMFs) and accommodating bank officials. The provision of a bank account number and a cheque book to each woman marked a crucial turning point in their lives.
Shubo Tara Chakma shared her elation: “I never imagined that opening a bank account could be so straightforward. With the thirty thousand takas I received from the LoGIC project, I plan to enhance our quality of life.”
Echoing her sentiments, Shanti Bala Chakma added, “This money allows us to diversify our businesses seasonally, with ventures like dry turmeric and broom flowers. I’m grateful to the LoGIC project for this opportunity.”
For these women, the bank accounts represent more than a financial instrument; they symbolize empowerment and a fresh start. The funds enable them to plan ahead, invest in businesses, and to break free from the vicious cycles of debt and scarcity wrought by climate change. They are now trailblazers on the path to resilience and independence.
The LoGIC Project, a collaborative initiative of the Bangladesh Government, UNDP Bangladesh, and UNCDF, with support from Swede
n and Denmark, aims to aid climate-vulnerable communities across Bangladesh through locally-led adaptation efforts. In 2024, the project expanded its reach to five additional upazilas in Rangamati and Bandarban. With the beneficiaries no
w equipped with bank accounts and initial funding, the project’s next phase will focus on building their capacity and guiding them toward Climate Adaptive Livelihood Options (CALO).
As these women harness their newfound resources, they are poised to restore the vibrancy of their hills and transform their lives, proving that even in adversity, strength and hope can flourish.