Bondhu Chula

Background 

There are about 30 million households in Bangladesh that use traditional stoves for cooking – in rural and urban areas. The fuel used for cooking is biomass, for instance– cow dung, agricultural waste, wood etc. The traditional stoves are fuel-inefficient, consume large quantity of biomass and thus cause tree felling. The biomass consumption for cooking amounts to more than 60 million tons a year. This high amount of biomass consumption has crossed the limit of sustainability; the diminishing of forest is the result of this. Moreover, the traditional stoves are a major contributor to indoor and outdoor air pollution resulting in almost 50,000 deaths of young children and women per year and serious health problems for millions of women.  With the population growth, urbanization and development, the consumption of wooden biomass for cooking is expected to increase, which will make the situation worse.

To avert the situation, the scientists have been urging for universal adoption of fuel-efficient and environment-friendly cookstoves. The Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has developed different models of improved cook stoves (ICS) suitable and acceptable for use in the households of Bangladesh. German Development Cooperation, GIZ Bangladesh adopted this ICS, branded it as “Bondhu Chula” and undertook initiatives to promote this all over Bangladesh. In recent years, several organizations, namely World Bank, USAID and Global Alliance for Clean Cook Stoves have come forward to promote ICS in Bangladesh.

GIZ has been promoting ICS in Bangladesh since 2006. Department of Environment (DoE) under the Ministry of Environment of Forests has been working with GIZ in the dissemination of ICS. Till March, 5.0 million ICS have been installed. 

2. Goal

The goal of the Bondhu Chula project is to initiate a radical change in the cook stove sector of Bangladesh and create a sustainable market for improved cookstoves.

3. Objectives

The objectives of the project are:

(1) Creating entrepreneurs for environment-friendly cookstoves who will produce and sell improved stoves and provide after-sales services,

(2) Raising awareness,

(3) Making demand and supply chain,

(4) Replacing traditional cookstoves by environment-friendly cookstoves,

(5) Accelerating the use of environment-friendly cook stoves. 

What is Bondhu Chula? 

Bondhu Chula is a fuel-efficient, health, environment, and climate-friendly stove. The Bondhu Chula plays an instrumental role in protecting the environment of the family, the country, and the world. Bangladesh Bondhu Foundation (BONDHU) is conducting Bondhu Chula activities across the country. These activities are part of the development program of the Government of Bangladesh and crucial in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The local governments, especially the union parishads, play an important role in implementing these activities. The local entrepreneurs manufacture and sell the stove and the Bondhu Chula doctors provide the stove installation and after-sales service. Bangladesh Bondhu Foundation (BONDHU) is providing one Bondhu Chula per family at a subsidized price. The Bondhu Chula can be used for at least five years with proper maintenance.