Durgapur: Fifty underprivileged families in Durgapur Upazila of Rajshahi have received iftar packages as part of a nationwide Ramadan initiative undertaken by As-Sunnah Foundation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the foundation launched a countrywide programme to distribute iftar items among 33,300 helpless and impoverished families during the holy month of Ramadan. This initiative, named “Iftar Distribution 2026,” extended assistance to selected beneficiaries in Durgapur.
The local distribution was coordinated by Md. Sakibul Islam Sabbir, who represented the foundation within the upazila. To ensure transparency and effectively reach the most deserving families, Sabbir conducted door-to-door visits to gather information and prepare a preliminary list of beneficiaries. This list was then submitted to the foundation’s central office for verification and screening.
After a thorough review process, a final list was approved, and the iftar packages were delivered to the selected families through a courier service. Each package, valued at Tk 1,000, contained essential and nutritious items for those observing the fast, including one kilogram of dates, two kilograms of chickpeas, two kilograms of lentils, one kilogram of puffed rice, and one litre of soybean oil.
Sabbir shared his field experiences, noting the hardship he witnessed during the distribution. He observed that several individuals who were once financially solvent are now in distress due to family neglect and adverse circumstances. He recounted visiting a remote, wetland-surrounded area to deliver assistance to a destitute elderly man living alone in a small hut without electricity and with few neighbouring households. Such experiences, he noted, serve as a stark reminder of the realities faced by many vulnerable citizens.
Sabbir also highlighted that Islamic scholar Ahmadullah has set an example through the establishment of the As-Sunnah Foundation. Since 2021, the foundation has been implementing poverty alleviation and welfare programmes across the country, including house construction, self-reliance initiatives, entrepreneur development projects, winter clothing distribution, and rickshaw donations.