COAST Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to coastal community development, provided its support for the families affected by the tragic fishing trawler incident that occurred on June 25 in Bhola district. On June 25, a fishing trawler capsized during a severe storm near the mouth of Charpial 3 river, resulting in the loss of five lives. Six fishermen were fortunate enough to be rescued and are currently receiving medical treatment at Charfashan Hospital. However, the search for two missing fishermen continues. Govt to provide all possible financial assistance to returnees from Sudan: Minister Recognizing the urgency and importance of providing immediate relief, COAST Foundation took the initiative to extend support to the affected families. COAST utilized its own funds to provide financial assistance 90 thousand tk to the families of the deceased, injured, and missing fishermen, says a press release on Sunday afternoon . This assistance aims to alleviate their financial burden and offer some comfort during this challenging time. In a special ceremony held on Saturday, COAST Foundation officially distributed the support to the affected families. BNP provides financial assistance to families of two slain activists of Bhola Dignitaries including the Panel Chairman of Charmadraj Union, members, political leaders, teacher representatives, leaders of the Fisheries Society, and Mahmudul Haque Didar, Deputy Director of COAST Foundation, were present to express their solidarity and support.  

Forty-three fire-affected families of Kutubdia received cash and non-food items Thursday after a blaze tore through Amjakhali Al-Amin Market of Baraghope union of the upazila in Cox's Bazar on November 18. The fire gutted 24 houses and 19 shops. Non-government organisation COAST Foundation, with the assistance of Malteser International of Germany, distributed cash assistance to 24 families and 19 shopkeepers. Each of the 24 affected families received Tk20,000 in emergency multipurpose cash support, a set of non-food items, including sanitary pads, clothes, slippers, blankets, and mosquito nets that cost around Tk5,000. Each of the 19 shopkeepers got Tk15,000 as emergency startup support to start their business again. Wednesday, COAST and Malteser conducted a rapid assessment of all-fire affected families and shopkeepers. Read: BMET gives bicycles to flood-affected students as alternative to relief Also, COAST consulted the district administration, upazila administration, union parishad, and various individuals for fire response. Shahinul Haque Marshal, chairman of Cox's Bazar Zila Parishad, Gorge Mitra Chakma, assistant commissioner (land); Rajan Ghimire, country director, and Matin Shardar, program and partner coordinator of Malteser, were present during the distribution programme. Rajan said COAST and Malteser came forward with cash assistance and non-food items to support affected households as an immediate response to the fire disaster.

A recent study on the impact of COVID-19 on child marriage in Cox’s Bazar district has uncovered rates of child marriage soared throughout the district since March 2021, with the highest increase of 82% in Eidgaon Upazila and the second highest increase of 75% in Ukhiya Upazila. The study was carried out by the COAST foundation in 32 Union Parishads and 3 municipalities throughout nine Upazilas in the district. COAST foundation conducted the study from 4 August to 26 September 2021 covering all Upazila of Cox's Bazar. The study findings were presented from a virtual press conference on Saturday. Moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Foundation, the findings were presented by Jahangir Alam, Assistant Director of COAST. In his keynote, Jahangir Alam noted that the trend not only increased in each upazila under the district , but also the high rates of increase. Apart from Eidgaon and Ukhiya, we had Ramu at 72%, Teknaf 66%, Moheskhali 61%, Kutubdia 54%, and Cox’s Bazar Sadar 51%. Only in Chokoria (32%) and Pekua (26%) do they fall below 50%. Read: Child marriage rate still over 80% in Bhola In another presentation on the multidimensional impact of child marriage, Md. Mujibul Haque Munir, Joint Director of the same organization, said due to such high rates of child marriage, the birth rate in Bangladesh is highest in South Asia. Child marriage eats up 9% of women's income and 1% of national income. Eliminating child marriage by 2030 could save 11% of our educational budget, he said.

  Although the overall rate of child marriage has dropped in the country, the number in the Bhola district is still alarming.  The national child marriage rate for children under the age of 15 is 15.5% but it is 19% in Bhola. Also, the national rate of marriage of children under 18 is 51.4%, but it is 80.3% in the district. COAST Foundation Joint Director Iqbal Uddin Saturday came up with the findings at the webinar "Causes, Impact and Ways to Prevent Child Marriage." Also read: 13,886 child marriages in 7 months during Covid-19 outbreak: MJF The COAST study notes that "insecurity" among parents is one of the major causes of child marriage as 41.7% of those surveyed identified insecurity as the main cause of child marriage. Other factors included protection of family honour (41%), lack of awareness (44.9%), and poverty (50.9%). The study found that 67.3% of girls get married after passing eighth grade. Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children Affairs Ministry Chairman Meher Afroz Chumki said despite many initiatives of the government, there is still a problem of attitude towards girls in society. Also read: 10 million additional girls at risk of child marriage: Unicef Shireen Huq, member of Naripookho, said: "Not only punishment but also cultural change and social movement are needed to prevent child marriage. Integrated sex education can play an important role in preventing child marriage." Manusher Jono Foundation (MJF) Executive Director Shaheen Anam said, "To prevent child marriage and its negative impact, it is crucial to bring the girls back, who have dropped out, to school." Also read: Bangladesh has the highest prevalence of child marriage in S Asia: UNICEF SM Latif said a study found that 33% of parents find child marriage acceptable. "This situation must change. The primary reasons for child marriage vary widely in different areas. So solving the problem will require division-based programs."