ACD works to improve women's and children's position in Bangladesh society by addressing the conditions which marginalize them. This not only includes society's views of them, but also their view of themselves. By providing training and implementing programmes that alleviate poverty, ACD works to develop their self-confidence.

Based in Rajshahi, in the northern border area where Bangladesh and India meet, its work covers 850 villages.

In 1994 it began working against the trafficking of women and children and was one of the first organisations in Bangladesh to focus on this issue. It works directly with the victims of trafficking, the general public and with local officials.

ACD founded a shelter home in 1999, which helps trafficked women and children recover from their ordeal and stops them from being trafficked again. It gives them food, clothing, counselling, vocational training and non-formal education, including courses on literacy and human rights.

In order to make the public more aware of the dangers of trafficking it has set up village-level committees that meet regularly in order to inform residents about trafficking, its dangers, and how to recognise it.

The organisation investigates cases of trafficking and monitors its growth. It has recently published research into the causes and consequences of trafficking in Bangladesh's northwest.

To ensure local elites, religious leaders, lawyers, teachers, as well as police and border security forces understand the problem, ACD holds workshops, seminars and training courses.

Salima Sarwar

Salima Sarwar is the founder and director of Association for Community Development (ACD). She established ACD in 1989 in order to help empower women and protect women's and children's rights.

She has worked in development organisations since the early 1970s. She founded ACD because NGOs in Bangladesh were only reaching conveniently accessible areas such as the large towns and cities. They failed to help people in the most remote parts of the country, particularly the women and children of the northern border region.