Gono Unnayan Prochesta" in English - Peoples Development Efforts has started functioning since 22nd April, 1973. GUP was initiated out of the working experience with the affected people in the rural areas of Bangladesh shortly after the war of liberation in 1971. The early years of GUP's activities were marked with road construction, raising community flood centers, excavations of ponds under food for work program, indicating more of a relief/ rehabilitation stance. The initial thought behind the establishment of GUP was to give a development orientation to the relief and rehabilitation activities done immediately after the war and reduce the relief mentalities in the community.

Side by side, development program vis-à-vis services including Agriculture with introduction of new crops (vegetables, fruits), Children's Health Care (CHC), Adult Functional Education (AFEP), Training Programs, School Education, Women and Children Development, Youth Participation and Cooperative programs were also initiated.

Later on in 1982, GUP along with its development thrust established the Peace Center emphasizing peace, social harmony and human rights. GUP's programs thus increased manifold by gradual incorporation of Water and Sanitation, Arsenic Mitigation, Disaster Management, and Sustainable Livelihood Programs for the Community members especially for hard core poor and vulnerable communities.