Rural Unfortunates Safety Talisman Illumination Cottage (RUSTIC, widely recognized as RusticBD) is a registered non-governmental development agency working for disadvantaged and climate-vulnerable communities in Bangladesh since 1988.
Bangladesh is a developing nation in South Asia home to over 170 million people, of whom millions in coastal belts face extreme climate shocks. Among the most vulnerable are women, children, and subsistence farmers across the remote southwestern coastal belt comprising Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Jessore.
Recurring catastrophic cyclones (Sidr, Aila, Bulbul, Amphan, Remal), sea-level rise, salinity intrusion into agricultural lands, and acute shortages of potable drinking water make this region one of the world's ground-zeros for climate vulnerability.
Recognizing these acute crises, RUSTIC was established by a dedicated group of grassroots social activists led by Moral Noor Mohammad and supported by visionary entrepreneurs like Monoaur Hossain (Moinul) to deliver comprehensive community empowerment, disaster response, and sustainable ecological models.
"Bangladesh is a treasure trove of agricultural and human potential. Poverty is caused by structural vulnerabilities, climate shocks, and lack of sustainable opportunity."
A just, poverty-free, enlightened, and self-reliant society where every underprivileged person enjoys fundamental human rights, health security, gender equity, and climate resilience.
To empower marginalized rural and peri-urban poor through sustainable safe water and sanitation, climate adaptation, modern agricultural technology, child labor eradication schools, maternal health, and rapid disaster relief.
Organizing grassroots Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) for collective bargaining and civic empowerment.
Installing deep tubewells, pond sand filters (PSF), and industrial rainwater harvesting systems to guarantee arsenic-free, saline-free water.
Running Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) centers and vocational drop-in facilities for children engaged in hazardous urban labor.
Operating municipal waste collection vans and central composting units converting organic municipal refuse into eco-certified bio-fertilizer.
RUSTIC operates under a transparent, democratic governance framework guided by a 31-Member General Body and a 7-Member Executive Committee.
The General Body comprises 31 dedicated social workers, educationists, lawyers, and development practitioners. Meeting annually, it ratifies organizational policies, reviews annual audited accounts, and elects the Executive Committee every 2 years.
Elected every two years by the General Body, the 7-member Executive Committee (President, Vice-President, Executive Director, Treasurer, and Members) meets quarterly to guide strategic project implementation and ensure regulatory compliance.
UK-educated entrepreneur, media leader (Vice Chairman, Channel S UHD TV), Managing Director of KGSM Group and Craytec Solution Ltd leading RUSTIC strategic growth and partnerships.
Freedom fighter, social worker, and founder of RUSTIC leading grassroots development since 1988. Ashoka Fellow USA, HSBC Climate Hero Award, and Paribesh Padak Bangladesh.
RUSTIC maintains a lean, highly professional workforce committed to developmental ethics, gender equity, and participatory governance:
| Category | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Core Staff | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| Project / Field Staff | 9 | 12 | 21 |
| Core Volunteers | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Total Personnel: | 20 | 21 | 41 |
