The Fight to Rise Again: Looking Back at the Days of Crisis (2024–2026)

The Fight to Rise Again: Looking Back at the Days of Crisis (2024–2026) documents Noboprobhaat Foundation’s journey through one of the most challenging periods in its institutional history. Established in 2018 as a rural, youth-led organisation in Bangladesh, the Foundation faced an unprecedented combination of international funding disruptions, growing restrictions on civic space, institutional uncertainty, and increasing threats against marginalized communities. The documentation examines the consequences of the global funding crisis of 2025, particularly the termination of the USAID Equality Project, which resulted in the loss of approximately USD 50,000, representing nearly 60% of the organisation’s budget. This sudden disruption forced the Foundation to suspend planned activities, discontinue staff positions, and close an office that had served as an important gathering and support space for marginalized young people. Beyond the institutional consequences, the report explores how reduced resources affected access to protection, healthcare, legal assistance, livelihoods, and community support.

A central focus of the publication is the role of international solidarity and institutional partnerships in sustaining grassroots organisations during periods of crisis. It documents the contributions of Kaleidoscope Trust, Free Press Unlimited, Article 19, OutRight International, Rainbow Railroad, and Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE), highlighting how emergency assistance, flexible funding, organisational development support, and continued donor engagement helped the Foundation maintain its operations and rebuild institutional capacity. The publication also presents a detailed account of Noboprobhaat Foundation’s fourteen-month journey toward registration with Bangladesh’s NGO Affairs Bureau. Beginning with its application in February 2025, the process involved administrative delays, extensive verification, an initial negative investigation report, and a subsequent appeal and renewed assessment. The journey culminated in the Foundation receiving its NGO Affairs Bureau registration certificate on 5 April 2026, marking a significant milestone in its institutional development.

Through organisational reflections, documented experiences, financial information, and a chronological account of major developments, The Fight to Rise Again highlights the importance of community leadership, institutional resilience, flexible funding, and sustained international solidarity. More than a record of organisational hardship, it offers insights into the structural challenges facing grassroots civil society organisations in Bangladesh and demonstrates how collective commitment and strategic partnerships can help sustain community-led movements during periods of profound uncertainty.