ISDE extends food support to host communities in Cox’s Bazar
ISDE Bangladesh has provided emergency food assistance to 500 impoverished and vulnerable families in Magnama union, Pekua upazila, Cox's Bazar.
The initiative, part of the 'Emergency Food Assistance for Rohingya and Host Communities in Bangladesh-2026' project, is funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief).
The distribution took place on Saturday, 4 April 2026, in Ward No. 5 and surrounding areas. Beneficiaries included low-income families, the elderly, persons with special needs, and lower middle-income households.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Project officials stated that the initiative aims to support both Rohingya refugees and local host communities. In total, 60,000 families—42,000 Rohingya and 18,000 local—are targeted to receive food support under the project.
Each recipient family received a package comprising 10kg of rice, 7kg of lentils, 3 litres of soybean oil, 1kg of sugar, and 1kg of salt.
Magnama Union Parishad Chairman Md Yunus Chowdhury, former Jubo Dal central leader Nazim Uddin Manik, local representatives, ISDE Bangladesh Programme Coordinator Md Jahangir Alam, and Upazila Manager Jalal Uddin attended the event.
The project is overseen by ISDE Bangladesh Executive Director SM Nazrul Hossain.
Previously, food assistance was distributed to 12,000 families in Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, and Rohingya camps under the same project.
ISDE Bangladesh officials noted that the project not only bolsters food security for local communities, but also fosters solidarity and social harmony between Rohingya refugees and host populations. The programme is implemented with support from KSrelief.
