Caritas Bangladesh gets new Director

The governing body of Caritas Bangladesh appointed Daud Jibon Das as the director of programs for the country’s social development wing, with effect from January 1, 2024.

Caritas held the General Body meeting on November 10.

Das, the present Regional Director of Caritas Khulna Region, will succeed the late Sukleash George Costa, who died of a massive stroke on August 20.

He first joined Caritas Bangladesh’s Central Office in September 2007. Since then, he has served Caritas Bangladesh in different capacities. He was the Regional Director of Caritas Khulna Region from November 2016.

He obtained a master’s degree in social work from Rajshahi University. He also completed a diploma in development studies from the University of Dhaka.

Caritas Bangladesh is the Catholic Church’s social arm in the country, and it marked its golden jubilee last year.

In its early years, Caritas was the eastern branch office of Pakistan. Later, the Chittagong Dioceses established the Chittagong Organization for Relief and Development (CORD), which assisted those who resided along the coast after the terrible storm on November 12, 1970. Over time, it began to work under the name Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation (CORR).

On January 13, 1971, it became a national organization. On July 13, 1972, the organization registered with the

government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, which had just gained its independence.

The main office of Caritas is in Shantibagh, Dhaka, right now. Not only that, but there are also eight regional offices in Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, and Sylhet.

These offices help Caritas do work in 187 areas across 53 districts in the country.

Caritas is currently running 112 projects across three trusts, which help about 1.7 million people.

There are 165 Caritas member organizations in more than 200 countries and regions that make up Caritas Internationalis. Caritas Bangladesh is one of these organizations.