Neelima Akther Chowdhury was born in Mofizabad Village in Cox’s Bazar District, an area in Bangladesh frequently affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises, started her career at the National Youth Development Academy. Her passion for empowering women drove her to establish AGRAJATTRA in 1998, a women-led organization based in Cox Bazar focused on skill development and self-employment projects for underprivileged women, particularly in the readymade garment sector.
Under Neelima’s leadership, AGRAJATTRA has implemented numerous programs focused on women’s rights and economic independence such as the Dream Home for street children in Ramu. This program provides shelter, education, and vocational training to vulnerable girls, helping them break the cycle of poverty, and supporting a significant number of girls to transition into formal education systems.
During the Rohingya refugee crisis, Neelima in her quality of AGRAJATTRA’s chief executive, coordinated efforts to provide emergency relief (food, shelter, and medical aid) to thousands of refugees, with a focus on protecting displaced women and girls from violence and exploitation. Her work has not only alleviated immediate suffering but also laid the groundwork for long-term peace and stability in the region.
