The political turmoil in Bangladesh has created a crisis for the communities in which Amarok Society operates.

AS teaches mothers to become neighbourhood teachers in the urban slums of Bangladesh. These women are providing a quality education to children who otherwise would have no access to one.

Although AS is focused on education, the communities we work in are so poor that we cannot detach ourselves from the real threat of malnutrition, destitution, and even starvation that faces these families in times of crisis.

With $8,000, we can provide rice and beans to families who were not able to make ends meet during this emergency. This curfews and political unrest have prevented many people from working, and for families who can barely scrape by at the best of times, this sort of disruption can be disastrous. 

To learn more about the women we teach and how they are lifting up their communities, please visit www.AmarokSociety.org

What is happening in Bangladesh?

• In response to student protests over quotas for government jobs the Bangladeshi government, headed by Sheikh Hasina, violently cracked down on protesters in the last half of July.
• Initially, over 150 people were killed, while others were detained and even faced torture.
• The Supreme Court ruled against the quotas, which was a victory for the protesters. Still, the protests continued, pivoting to take aim at the government's attempts at suppression.
• The protesters had many demands, but as the unrest continued, they whittled their demands down to just one: Sheikh Hasina must resign.
• On Sunday, August 4th, more violence broke out, killing another 100 people.
• Amid increasing volatile civil unrest, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country on Monday, August 5th.
• The military took over, announcing their intention to oversee the formation of an interim government.
• The death toll is now thought to be at least 440.
• Muhammad Yunus has been chosen to lead the interim government, and intends to oversee the implementation of electoral and democratic reforms.
• We do not yet know when general elections will take place, but currently Yunus states that he does not intend to be the long-term chief of the caretaker government.

What does this mean for Amarok Society Mother-Teachers and their communities?

• During the restrictive curfew, which lasted more than a week, our schools closed and our mothers and their families were unable to work.
• Bangladesh is facing a dire economic downturn.
• Our schools have been closed at various times throughout the unrest. We hope it will be safe for them to reopen soon.
• This means that the families we serve are in desperate need of support for food and essential supplies.
• We are aiming to raise $8,000 to provide relief for our mothers and their families.

• Students often play a key role in political change and progress, and student protests are part of a functioning democracy.
• Students in Bangladesh were instrumental in achieving liberation from Pakistan in 1971.
• A functioning democracy is impossible without an educated population.
• Our mothers are ensuring that even the poorest children in Bangladesh are growing up with the ability to read, write, and do math, which means that they will have the necessary skills to participate in the democratic process.