Who we are?

In 1988, a group of concerned villagers in Krishnanagar UP, Southern Satkhira, came together to address the devastating impacts of a severe cyclone. With unshakeable commitment, this group eventually evolved through difficult times to become a registered NGO under the name Agrogoti Sangstha in 1998.

Over the past 20 years, AS has implemented projects on Human Trafficking, Water and Sanitation, Alternative Agricultural Practices, Acid Violence, Gender Equity, Health and Education, Transparency and Accountability in Local Governance, Local Arbitration, Gender Violence and others. Its central office in Satkhira is now complemented by five field offices in Satkhira and Khulna districts, in total employing more than 100 persons as well as around 300 volunteers. We have collaborated with National and International partners. An exchange project is currently running with AS as the coordinating partner and being implemented jointly in India (Right Track) and Nepal (Aawaaj).

The organization’s pride and joy is the ‘Adolescent Resource Centre’ at the organization’s birthplace in Krishnanagar. With its own executive committee and one full-time staff member, the ARC has become a club for some 472 adolescents who receive training on Reproductive Health, Adolescent’s rights and Livelihoods and above all enjoy having a place where they feel free and secure.

AS is also a member of a number of networks including Coastal Development Network, Satkhira Development Network, Men and Boys Network, Sundarban Day Observation. Self-help Promotion Khulna Divisional network, Bangladesh Research team for working with men and Boys, Assessment for strengthening boys and men (Save the children Sweden-Denmark), ATSEC – Bangladesh Chapter, South West Informatory Forum for Transformation (SWIFT), Election Working Group, NC4.

With a strong developmental philosophy, committed staff and a cooperative approach; AS has become a major leader in good governance and human rights protection in Satkhira District.

Development in Satkhira, however; has if anything become more complex in recent years. Environmental degradation, population growth, climate change, gender violence, religious fundamentalism, inequality, poor governance and unemployment all currently combine to increase the vulnerability of the district’s people and environment. Holding greater responsibility with its greater influence; AS must meet these challenges head-on and in order to do so, it must develop internally. Increased funding and staffs, longer-term projects and greater expectations all place greater demands on the organization’s internal capacity and require greater planning and cohesiveness, transparency and effectiveness.