Project Inception by Breaking The Silence (BTS)

"For generations, the culture of silence imposed by our patriarchal society has taught people to remain quiet about many harmful issues out of fear of losing honor and dignity, which ultimately exposes children to even greater harm. To break this culture of silence, we must all work together,” said Md. Islam Uddin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Municipal Administrator, during the Project Inception Meeting held on 23 February 2026 at the conference room of the UNO Office in Sreemangal.
He further emphasized that “children need to be taught about good touch and bad touch from an early age. This can be made possible through initiatives taken by families, educational institutions, and development organizations.”
The event was organized by Breaking the Silence (BTS) under the project titled “Strengthening Community and Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.”

The project is being implemented under the Nagorikata: Civic Engagement Fund (CEF) Programme, supported by Switzerland, Canada, and the European Union (EU). Nari Maitree (NM) and Centre for Women and Children Studies (CWCS) are consortium partners of the initiative.
Mr. Md. Islam Uddin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Sreemangal, attended the event as the Chief Guest. Representatives from the Department of Women and Children Affairs, the Department of Social Services, Tea Garden Ponchayet, UP members, representatives from tea garden labor union and various civil society organizations (CSOs) participated in the meeting, reflecting a strong commitment to collaborative and inclusive action in addressing Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE).

The project aims to strengthen the voice, representation, and meaningful participation of civil society organizations—particularly those representing women, youth, and marginalized communities—in addressing CSAE at local, district, and national levels across Bangladesh.
The intervention is currently being implemented in three districts: Dhaka, Satkhira, and Moulvibazar.

#CivicEngagement #InclusiveDevelopment #SDG05 #SDG16
#NagorikataCEF #BreakingTheSilence #ChildProtection