Staff Reporter :
A discussion session was held at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in Banglamotor, Dhaka, with expatriate Bangladeshis, focusing on “The Role of NRB in Alleviating Poverty Through Zakat.
A discussion session was organized jointly by MASTUL Foundation and the America Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industries (ABCCI) on Sunday. The Co-Chairman of ABCCI, Hasanuzzaman Hasan presided over the event. The Chief Guest of the session was Professor Niyaz Ahmed Khan, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University. Other distinguished guests – Mohammad Anwar Hossain, DG (Additional) Joint Secretary, NGO Bureau; Asif Ashraf, MD of Urmi Group; Dr. M.D. Ataur Rahman Miazi, Professor of Islamic History & Culture, Dhaka University; Abu Gaffar Mohiuddin Khatib, Namera Mosque & Islamic Center, Brooklyn, New York; Anis Rahman, Co-Founder of Billions for Bangladesh; Duke Khan, FOBANA, Atlanta, USA; Babu Kamruzzaman, Special Representative, News24 TV; Azim Dewan, Founder of the Bangladesh Business Council, Canada and besides them, directors of renowned local and international organizations were also present in the event.
During the event, financial assistance was provided to seven injured students who were therefore victims of the July Anti-discrimination Student Movement under the “Zakat Empowerment Project.” The recipients were Zakir Sikdar (Rajshahi), Imran (Rajshahi), Mirajul (Pabna), Nadim (Chandpur), Tamim (Barisal), Alamgir (Pabna), and Rifat (Barisal).
Anisul Kabir Jashir, Director of Foundation, said, “Zakat is not a mere act of charity, it is the fundamental right of the poor.” Expatriates are very interested in helping reduce poverty in Bangladesh through Zakat. We MASTUL are constantly working to create employment opportunities in every district of the country, aiming to bring helpless and disabled individuals under the umbrella of self-reliance.
Kazi Reaz Rahman, Founder and Executive Director of MASTUL Foundation, saying, “People trust MASTUL and give us their Zakat/Sadaqah. We, following the principles of Islam, use that money to improve the lives of those who are eligible to receive Zakat/Sadaqah. He further added that, through the Zakat Empowerment Project, we expect to bring positive changes in the society .”
It should be noted that MASTUL Foundation’s multifaceted social service activities include its own school, madrasa, orphanage and old age home where more than a hundred parentless orphans/orphaned students and the elderly live. Apart from this, more than a thousand underprivileged talented students are being provided health, nutritious food, child rights and basic needs in project schools in some districts. Besides, to stand by the people of the country in the medical sector, through the ‘MASTUL Aid’ project, more than half a hundred disabled crippled patients injured in road accidents are being supported with wheelchairs and prosthetic legs along with medical services. MASTUL Foundation has sewing training centers, computer training centers through which the underprivileged population is being empowered. Apart from this, more than 1000 people have been made self-reliant through the Zakat self-reliance project. MASTUL’’s main work is the burial-burial service project, through which more than 3000 bodies have been buried since the start of the corona. There is MASTUL Mehmankhana, from where hundreds of helpless low-income people are fed in one day.
