On behalf of the Chevron-funded Uddokta Project, iDE Bangladesh hosted the closing ceremony of the Uddokta Project at a prestigious hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka.

The event, themed ‘Reflections on Sustainability and Empowering Entrepreneurs,’ marked the culmination of a nearly four-year journey dedicated to enhancing technical knowledge and business skills and fostering essential connections among entrepreneurs and village development associations across various sectors.

The ‘Uddokta-Empowering Entrepreneurs’ project, funded by Chevron and implemented by iDE, aimed to bolster the economic empowerment and stability of 110 VDO cooperative societies and 1,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while preserving and growing their capital. Since 2020, the project has been active around Chevron Bangladesh’s gas field areas in Sylhet and Habiganj, benefiting approximately 42,500 people by empowering entrepreneurs and fostering societal development.

The event was graced by Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Honorary Fellow of the Center for Policy Dialogue, as the Chief Guest. Distinguished guests included Greg Barnes, Director of Finance, Chevron Bangladesh, and Muhammad Imrul Kabir, Director of Corporate Affairs, Chevron Bangladesh. Special guests included Feroz Ahmed, Deputy Director (Training), Department of Fisheries, and Dr. F. M. Mahbubur Rahman, Director (Planning)-ICT Wing, Department of Agricultural Extension, and Dr. Hosne Ara Begum, Principal Scientific Officer, Department of Livestock Services.

Among the notable attendees were A K M Arif Akter, CE and SI Manager,, Chevron Bangladesh; Khondoker Tusherujjaman, Field Corporate Affairs Manager,, Chevron Bangladesh; Md. Humayun Kabir, General Manager, Alim Industries Limited; Mohammad Shoeb Iftekhar, Associate Director-Program, iDE Bangladesh, Md. Afzal Hossain Bhuiyan, Head of Strategic Partnership, iDE Bangladesh, and Md. Hannan Ali, Project Manager-Uddokta, iDE Bangladesh.

The event also saw the presence of Chevron Bangladesh employees, iDE representatives, suppliers of improved seed varieties, organic pesticide company representatives, and media personnel. The program was presided over by Sameer Karki, Country Director, iDE Bangladesh, and moderated by Paromita Dutta, Monitoring and Evaluation Expert, iDE Bangladesh. The event was organized by iDE Bangladesh’s ‘Uddokta’ Project officials.

Mr. Karki welcomed approximately 80 guests associated with the Uddokta Project to the event, where they learned about the project’s successes and achievements, and Chevron Bangladesh’s role in the community’s socio-economic development. Representatives of cooperative societies and entrepreneurs from diverse sectors expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Uddokta Project and Chevron Bangladesh for the opportunity to share their remarkable experiences.
Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, and it is involved in virtually every aspect of the energy industry. Chevron Bangladesh Block Twelve, Ltd. and Chevron Bangladesh Blocks Thirteen & Fourteen, Ltd. (“Chevron Bangladesh”) are the largest natural gas producers in Bangladesh, accounting for about 60% of total domestic natural gas production and over 83% of the domestic condensate production.

Chevron Bangladesh operates three gas fields in the northeast of the country. It works with communities across its operations, building long-term partnerships that foster economic development and lasting benefits.

iDE is an international development organization that works to empower low-income people economically and socially to overcome multiple adversities. IDE started its journey in Bangladesh as its first country program in 1984.