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its network of “academies” from eight to 80 institutions.

On women’s empowerment, he said BRAC will expand legal aid services through 268 legal aid clinics, with an estimated 25,000 women expected to receive assistance annually over the next five years. Besides, special emphasis will be placed on 20 vulnerable districts to address climate change, along with strengthening crop insurance for farmers under the microfinance programme, he added.

KAM Morshed, senior director (advocacy, communications and engagement), said accountability to citizens remains central to BRAC’s work, adding that its annual report was a key part of that process.

AFM Shahidur Rahman, MEAL, risk management, safeguarding and social compliance director, said one in every seven citizens of Bangladesh receives BRAC’s services in some capacity.

He further added that 3.12 lakh families had been lifted out of extreme poverty in the past five years under its “Ultra-Poor Graduation” programme, making around 11 lakh people self-reliant.

He also said that the average monthly income of participating households had increased more than fourfold, while in the health sector, 21 lakh mothers had received safe delivery services during the period.

According to BRAC’s annual report, around 2.6 crore people received some form of support from the organisation in 2025, including 1.9 crore women. It also claimed a 17 percent reduction in institutional carbon emissions compared to 2019.

The organisation also said it is increasingly funding its operations through returns from social enterprises and reducing reliance on foreign donations.

Samakal Editor Shahed Mohammad Ali, Prothom Alo Executive Editor Sajjad Sharif, and Dhaka Tribune Editor Reaz Ahmad delivered the concluding remarks at the event.