Marking the launching, a day-long workshop was held here on Monday to share experiences of people involved, including officials, NGO workers and stake holders.

The programme will cover 20,000 households in 23 unions in flood and erosion prone Sunderganj, Gaibandha Sadar, Shaghata and Fulchari upazilas in Teesta and Brahmaputra basin areas.

The workshop titled 'Disappearing Lands: Supporting Communities Affected by Erosion', was held at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner under the auspices of Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG-Bangladesh).

The five-year programme also aims at reducing the vulnerability of the affected people in the areas and management of natural resources.

It will be funded jointly by the ITDG-Bangladesh and Community Fund (UK).

The programme includes development of infrastructure and service facilities, agriculture, fishery, livestock, vocational training and promoting agro-processing and small scale industries.

ITDG-Bangladesh together with five local NGOs -- Gano Unnayan Kendro, Samaj Kallan Sangstha, Ekota, Samokal and Palli Bashu Kallan Sangstha-- will jointly implement the programme.

"This programme is mainly for rehabilitation of erosion affected people of Gaibandha and I expect sincere co-operation from all quarters to implement it', Veena Khaleque, Country Director of ITDG-Bangladesh, said while addressing the workshop.

Inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Tapon Chandra Majumder, it was also attended by district and upazila level officials, chairmen of local Union Parishads and journalists.

The speakers included Gaibandha Agriculture Training Institute Principal Aminul Huq, Fulchari UNO Gautam Kumar Chakkravarti, Gaibandha Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director Abdur Rouf, Social Welfare Deputy Director, Mozammel Huq, ITDG Co-ordinator Atower Rahman, Project Manager A Z M Najrul Islam Chowdhury, ITDG Team Leader Mohammed Ali, Gano Unnayan Kendro Chief Executive Officer Abdus Salam and Dr. Mazrul Islam.