Country Information
Founded: 16th Century
Independence (from British control): (As completely independent nation): 1971
Land Area: 144,000 Square Kilometers (Slightly smaller than Iowa)
Climate: Tropical with monsoon season from June to October
Agricultural Land Usability: 55.4%
Natural Hazards: cyclones and heavy monsoons, much of the country routinely flooded during the summer months
Environmental issues: heavy water pollution from commercial pesticides and naturally occurring arsenic. Falling water tables in northern and central sections cause shortages of drinkable water. There is heavy soil erosion and degradation from the torrential rains.
The People
Population: 147,365,352
Infant Mortality Rate: 61 deaths / 1000 births
Life Expectancy: 62.5 years
Major Diseases: high risk: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, Typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, leptospirosis, rabies
Religions: 83% Muslim, 16% Hindu
Literacy Rate: 43%
Unemployment rate: 2.5%
Population below the UN-established Poverty Line: 45%
Special Conditions
Refugees from Burma numbering around 20,000 while Bangladeshi refugees of land conflicts and religious persecution number 61,000.
Identifying the Need
Bangladesh is in severe need of agricultural and educational reform. The high degree of overpopulation puts a strain on the natural resources and food supplies.
There are large numbers of orphans and widows in the standard population and especially among refugees.
Ongoing land conflicts with surrounding India cause food trading to be delayed or impossible.
Clean water is at a severe shortage, the naturally occurring arsenic causes tremendous danger of poison on top of the heavy risk of waterborne illnesses.
Medical care is not sufficient for the large population.
How The Zakat Foundation Has Responded
The work of Zakat Foundation in Bangladesh is the result of specific requests of our donors. This is yet another example of how The Zakat Foundation is your organization and how we pay attention to our donor’s requests for activities.
Ramadan Programs
In 2006, after we were able to establish an office, our Ramadan iftar and food distribution programs began to reach the Bangladeshis in most need.
Each year this plan will grow and we still need your help in distributing food year-round.
Remember that $100 will feed a family of six for a month.
Back to top
Udhiya / Qurbani Distribution
Since 2004, The Zakat Foundation has been distributing much-needed meats from Eid al-Adha in Bangladesh. Many Bangladeshi families cannot afford the meats themselves, so this one time a year is a treat to have such a distribution
Back to top
Establishing an office for all SE Asian activities
In order to better serve the Muslim nation of Bangladesh as well as serving the Muslim communities in India and other countries across Southeast Asia; we decided to establish an office this year.
The Zakat Foundation’s Bangladesh office has five board members and a country director. Our country director is Sr. Nahid Sultana, an American educated mother, whom we are certain will conduct our projects and programs with the best of results. We are assured that her community work here in USA has helped her gain the experience and ability to plan and implement projects effectively in Bangladesh. This small country with a large population has been suffering under natural disasters as well as human created mismanagement and we hope, insh’Allah, that The Zakat Foundation’s work will ease the pain and suffering of the Bangladeshi people.
Back to top
