SETU, a national NGO was formed in 1983 aiming to enable the disadvantaged community for sustainable development. SETU’s development effort concentrates on organizing and mobilizing the viable groups, enhancing their analytical capability, so that they can act and speak in local, national even global context.
Welcome to SETU
SETU has been equipped in a way to take and/or undertake right based challenging initiatives. Its particular expertise developed on the issues of Globalization, Rights & Governance, Climate Justice, Advocacy, CSO accountability etc. aiming at contributing its micro-macro impact which have been gained from its past work experiences.
FOUNDER OF SETU
In the event of growing demand of establishing organization several local attempts were unsuccessful due to absence of heterogeneous groups as well as lacking of understanding, awareness & motivation etc. Bottom up and inclusive systems were not followed, even no clarity of definition of success was not disclosed.
In 1983 some promising and dedicated young people of village Hazrahati & surrounding area under Mirpur Upazilla of Kushtia district meet informally to discuss about some challenges that the society confronts. They decided to organize themselves to wage actions with community people. Ultimately SETU was emerged by local youth with Md. Abdul Quader as the pioneer of the movement.
SETU was named by Abdus Salam Khan, inhabitant of village Radhanagor under Khoksa upazila of Kushtia district. He was one of the founders of the organization. SETU literally means ‘a bridge to access rights & capacities’. Since the inception of SETU, Abdus Salam Khan contributed as member of general committee & executive committee, participated in policy formulation and documentation process of the organization.
Initially SETU office started in a small tin shed house with some tables and chairs which can accommodate hardly 08 people. However the office bearers started working as volunteers with added motivation and enthusiasm.
GENERAL COMMITTEE OF SETU
General Committee of SETU consists of Sixteen (16) members. GC sits in meeting two (02) times yearly to plan its programs, policies and approve income and expenditure.
List of General Committee members (13/03/2019 to 12/03/2021):
| Sl No. | Name of members | Designation |
| 01 | Md. Shamsuddin Biswas | Member |
| 02 | Md. Omar Ali | Member |
| 03 | Md. Shahidullah Sheikh | Member |
| 04 | Sree Subas Chandra Debnath | Member |
| 05 | Abdul Awal Mridha | Member |
| 06 | Md. Sultanul Islam | Member |
| 07 | Mrs. Ainun Nahar | Member |
| 08 | Forida Yasmin | Member |
| 09 | Md. Abdus Sattar Biswas | Member |
| 10 | Md. Nazrul Islam | Member |
| 11 | Uzzal Kumar Debnath | Member |
| 12 | Nazma Parvin | Member |
| 13 | Md. Shofiqul Alam | Member |
| 14 | Md. Abdul Goni | Member |
| 15 | Mst. Lakia Khatun | Member |
| 16 | Md. Shahidul Islam | Member |
| 17 | Roksahanaz Parvin | Member |
| 18 | Mst. Laila Arjuman Banu | Member |
| 19 | Mizanur Rahman Ripon | Member |
| 20 | Anwar Hossain Litu | Member |
| 21 | Salma Parvin | Member |
| 22 | Eshita Afrin | Member |
| 23 | M A Quader | Member Secretary |
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF SETU
Executive Committee is the supreme decision-making organ which is elected by General Body members. Executive Committee is comprised of seven members who sit in every three (03) months. List of Executive Committee members (13/03/2019 to 12/03/2021) is as follows:
| Sl No. | Name of members | Designation |
| 01 | Md. Shahidullah Sheikh | Chairperson |
| 02 | Uzzal Kumar Debnath | Vice- Chairperson |
| 03 | Md. Shofiqul Alam | Treasurer |
| 04 | Md. Abdul Goni | Member |
| 05 | Mrs. Ainun Nahar | Member |
| 06 | Mst. Lakia Khatun | Member |
| 07 | M A Quader | Member Secretary |
KEY PERSONS OF SETU
ORGANOGRAM OF SETU
LEGAL STATUS
Obtaining government registrations (Social welfare) was a time consuming matter. SETU had to face bureaucratic tangle to obtain registration. It took at least one year to get social service registration. SETU file was lying idle in different offices of social service of Mirpur and Kushtia. After a rigorous attempt SETU obtain registration from social welfare department and started its works with added motivation and courage. NGOs – all those organization which are involved in various development activities with objectives of alleviating poverty, illiteracy etc. but their ways of journey is somewhat difficult. Similarly SETU had to wait more than one year period for obtaining FDR (Foreign Donation Regulation) registration from Dhaka. However SETU had to overcome those challenges with much patience and technique.
Ultimately SETU obtained following registration from different Govt. departments:
| Sl. No. | Legal Authorities | Govt. Rules or Ordinance | Issue/Renew Date | Registration Number | View Documents | Download Documents |
| 01. |  |
Voluntary welfare agencies (Registration & control) ordinance, 1961 | 17/02/1986 | Kushtia-10/86 | VIEW |
DOWNLOAD |
| 02. |  |
The foreign donation (voluntary activities) regulation rules, 1978 | 05/10/1987 | DSS/FDO/R-240 | VIEW |
DOWNLOAD |
| 03. |  |
MRA rule, 2006 | 05/09/2007 | 03033-03265-0049 | VIEW |
DOWNLOAD |
| 04. |  |
Ordinance (XXXVI of 1984) | 25/06/2018 | 412-400-0094/KC-2 | VIEW |
DOWNLOAD |