Madarganj is a very fertile area in Jamalpur district on the eastern bank of the mighty Jamuna River in Bangladesh. The local farmers grow great crops of rice and, in the dry season (November to April), vegetables including chilies do well. If you are fond of chili, come to Madarganj in March! Symbiosis International, through Symbiosis Bangladesh, has been working for over 3 years, running projects aimed at improving the health and welfare of poor people in this area.
During the wet season from May to October, the waters of the Jamuna River spill out over the flood plain and in some years flood waters make life very difficult for the poor farmers. People have to live in cramped damp conditions, have to travel by boat from one dry place to another and struggle to keep their domestic animals alive when dry land is almost non-existent. In 2007 the area was flooded twice, resulting in the destruction of the main rice crop.
Project Goal: "To alleviate poverty through Sustainable transformational holistic development".
Project Objectives
Community Cooperation: To increase cooperation and reduce vulnerability amongst participants, including the ability to develop leadership and sustainable social structures
Literacy: To increase the rate of literacy and numeracy amongst participants
Financial Security: To significantly improve the savings and income-generating capacity of group members
Health and Nutrition: To substantially improve the health of the community
Social and Environmental Issues: To increase the community's understanding of important social and environmental issue
Success of Minara
Written by Mrs.Shamoli
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 12:52
Minara is 27 year old woman. She is living in a village named charpakerdah at Madargonj upazila under Jamalpur district. She was illiterate and unaware before joining Symbiosis Bangladesh. She is a house wife. Her husband name is Bahadur. They have a daughter. She reads in class two. Bahadur have only 6 decimal lands where they are living. They have no more land to cultivate crops and vegetable. Bahadur collected steel, plastic and other reject materials and sold them to recycle store in the nearest village market. The income was not sufficient to maintain their family. Because of that some time they took a loan from village money lender. The interest rate was very high. So it was very difficult to repay the loan.
Story: Mr. Kader Fakir He is 72 years and married. he is living in Teghuria village, which is under of Jamalpur district. Mr. Kader Fakir was a poor farmer. He has four daughters and one son. His both the eyes were damaged for last five years. In that period of time he couldn’t see anything and could not do anything. Symbiosis Bangladesh arranged an eye camp in Teghuria Madergong and he came in that camp. Our doctors checked his eyes and suggested him for an operation but he don’t have enough money to surgery his eyes. Then we have decided to help him to surgery his eyes without any cost. Then, One after another our doctor has surgery his eyes and we have given him lance as well.
Madarganj Development Project (Symbiosis Bangladesh - MDP) The video is some of their activites and of the land which has been purchased by Symbiosis Foundation for a community centre which the Australian High Commission is helping build.
Programs 
farmers grow great crops of rice and, in the dry season (November to April), vegetables including chilies do well. If you are fond of chili, come to Madarganj in March! Symbiosis International, through Symbiosis Bangladesh, has been working for over 3 years, running projects aimed at improving the health and welfare of poor people in this area.
Minara is 27 year old woman. She is living in a village named charpakerdah at Madargonj upazila under Jamalpur district. She was illiterate and unaware before joining Symbiosis Bangladesh. She is a house wife. Her husband name is Bahadur. They have a daughter. She reads in class two. Bahadur have only 6 decimal lands where they are living. They have no more land to cultivate crops and vegetable. Bahadur collected steel, plastic and other reject materials and sold them to recycle store in the nearest village market. The income was not sufficient to maintain their family. Because of that some time they took a loan from village money lender. The interest rate was very high. So it was very difficult to repay the loan.