Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is a Dhaka-based non-profit legal aid and human rights organization providing free legal representation, documentation of rights violations, and policy advocacy to victims of extrajudicial violence, gender-based abuse, and child rights violations in Bangladesh.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersDhaka, Bangladesh
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) does
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is a non-governmental, non-profit legal aid and human rights organization headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with 57 staff. Founded by the late Barrister Salma Sobhan, ASK provides free legal representation, mediation, and rapid response services to victims of human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, custodial deaths, and gender-based and child rights abuses. The organization operates a structured portfolio of program units covering legal aid and litigation, mediation and rapid response, child rights protection (including SUFASEC and Speak Up), Halfway Home rehabilitation, and the ASTHA and EngageNow projects on gender-based violence and civic engagement.
ASK's core operating model combines direct service delivery with systematic human rights documentation and policy advocacy. The Documentation Unit maintains the country's de facto reference statistics on rights violations, with a website hosting granular category-level data on border violence, political clashes, mob beatings, custodial deaths, law enforcement abductions, journalist harassment, and multiple forms of violence against women. The organization publishes annual human rights situation reports, quarterly bulletins, e-bulletins, ANNI reports, child rights reports, and audited financial statements. ASK holds UN ECOSOC consultative status and actively engages with UPR, UNCRC, and UNHRC mechanisms.
ASK is not a commercial enterprise and has no technology or AI product surface. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the organization is funded by development partners and international donors. Its convening role as permanent secretariat of the 20-organization Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) and its 2026 EU-funded partnership with UN Women on SGBV prevention anchor its institutional positioning. The target audience is non-paying beneficiaries (victims and at-risk populations), with distribution via a Dhaka office, a telephone helpline (+88 01724 415 677, 9am-5pm), and an active media and digital advocacy footprint.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
- Legal name
- Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
- Website
- https://askbd.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is a Dhaka-based non-profit legal aid and human rights organization providing free legal representation, documentation of rights violations, and policy advocacy to victims of extrajudicial violence, gender-based abuse, and child rights violations in Bangladesh.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Aid and Human Rights Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD), Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG)
Keywords
Where Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dhaka
- HQ country
- Bangladesh
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is a legal aid and human rights organization in Bangladesh that provides free legal assistance and representation to victims of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, gender-based violence, and child abuse. The organization complements direct legal services with systematic human rights monitoring and documentation, child rights protection programs, gender justice initiatives, capacity building, and policy advocacy at national and international levels including engagement with UN human rights mechanisms.
Product overview
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is a legal aid and human rights organization in Bangladesh offering a comprehensive portfolio of services. The organization operates as a unified platform combining direct service delivery with advocacy and research. Its core offerings include Legal Aid Services (providing free legal representation, mediation, and rapid response), Human Rights Monitoring and Documentation (systematic tracking of violations across categories including violence against women, child rights, and extrajudicial killings), and Child Rights Protection programs (including SUFASEC and Speak Up initiatives). ASK complements these direct services with capacity building training, awareness raising programs, and robust policy advocacy through its Publications and Reports unit (producing annual human rights reports, bulletins, and UN submissions). The organization also runs specialized projects such as ASTHA for Combating Gender Based Violence and EngageNow for Civic Engagement. A dedicated helpline (01724 415 677) provides accessible legal assistance. ASK holds UN ECOSOC consultative status and serves as the secretariat for the Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB), a coalition of 20 human rights organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Legal Aid Services Free legal assistance and representation for victims of human rights violations in Bangladesh, including litigation support, mediation, and rapid response services delivered through a dedicated helpline and the Dhaka office.
- Awareness Raising Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- In May 2026, ASK considered 24 human rights violation cases and sent 2 urgent communications to authorities. In April 2026, ASK considered 35 cases and sent 8 urgent communications.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- UN WomencoreASK and UN Women launched a EU-supported initiative to prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and promote safe university environments. This partnership involves collaboration with MNP, MSP and YGG (Union & Thana Level) for bi-monthly coordination meetings.
- Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB)coreASK serves as the secretariat for Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB), a coalition of 20 human rights and development organisations. HRFB was formed in 2007 to use the UPR process to improve human rights situation at the national level. ASK coordinates the forum's activities including stakeholder engagement and advocacy initiatives.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Commission of Jurists: International organization of judges and lawyers promoting human rights through the rule of law. Comparable on legal-advocacy methodology and engagement with UN human rights mechanisms, but as a Geneva-based broad incumbent.
- BRAC: Largest Bangladeshi development NGO with rights, legal empowerment, and gender justice programming. A much broader incumbent with overlapping human rights and women's empowerment work but vastly larger scale and scope.
- Lawyers Without Borders: International legal aid and rule-of-law organization. Comparable on legal aid delivery and access-to-justice mandate, though operating globally rather than being embedded in Bangladesh.
- Human Rights Watch: International human rights organization producing country reports on Bangladesh. Comparable on documentation, fact-finding, and advocacy methodology, though as a foreign-based incumbent rather than a Bangladeshi service-delivery NGO.
- Amnesty International: Global human rights organization with a Bangladesh section. Comparable advocacy methodology (urgent actions, reports, international mechanisms), but operates as a broad international incumbent rather than a domestic specialist.
Direct peers
- Odhikar: Bangladeshi human rights organization focused on monitoring violations, fact-finding, and advocacy. Highly comparable to ASK on human rights documentation, press statements, and adversarial posture toward state actors.
- Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA): Bangladeshi organization of women lawyers providing legal aid, shelter, and advocacy for women and children. Overlaps directly with ASK's legal aid, GBV response, and child protection mandates.
- Acid Survivors Foundation: Bangladesh-based foundation supporting survivors of acid violence — a category ASK explicitly tracks and litigates. Comparable on survivor rehabilitation, legal aid, and Bangladesh operational footprint.
- Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST): Leading Bangladeshi legal aid NGO providing free legal services, mediation, and litigation support to marginalized groups. Directly comparable to ASK on legal aid delivery model, donor-funded structure, and Bangladesh operating environment.
- Bangladesh Mohila Parishad: Major Bangladeshi women's rights advocacy organization. Comparable to ASK's gender-focused work, particularly the ASTHA project and SGBV programming under the UN Women partnership.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) social profiles
Digital presenceAin o Salish Kendra (ASK) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)
What does Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) do?
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is a legal aid and human rights organization in Bangladesh that provides free legal assistance and representation to victims of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, gender-based violence, and child abuse. The organization complements direct legal services with systematic human rights monitoring and documentation, child rights protection programs, gender justice initiatives, capacity building, and policy advocacy at national and international levels including engagement with UN human rights mechanisms.
Is Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) a public or private company?
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) founded?
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) based?
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in the Asia region.
Who are Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Commission of Jurists, BRAC, Lawyers Without Borders, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Direct peers are Odhikar, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA), Acid Survivors Foundation, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Bangladesh Mohila Parishad.
Does Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).
What industry is Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) in?
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)'s product category is Legal Aid and Human Rights Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAB, Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAM, Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8111.