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.

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:

SETU is a national level rights based development organization in Bangladesh having special consultative status with UN Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) and observer status with United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).