Desk Report :
At the beginning of the Corona pandemic in Bangladesh, when relatives, neighbors and even close friends stayed far. When no one came forward to bury the dead body, the Al Rashid Foundation came forward with a group of volunteers to do a noble job.
For this courageous role in the burial of Corona victims during the devastating Corona pandemic, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society have jointly welcomed the Al Rashid Foundation (ARF).
On 20th December, M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, Chairman of Al Rashid Foundation received the crest from Mr. Pablo Percelsi, Head of Delegation of International Committee of the Red Cross, Bangladesh at a function held at its auditorium in the city. Md. Feroz Salah Uddin, Secretary General of Bangladesh Red Cresent Society, Ms Jeniffer Hughes, and Forensic Specialist of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) along with other officials were also present during the reception.
At that time, M Shahadat Hossain Taslim expressed a firm conviction to keep the activities of the foundation on run. He is also the President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB). Taslim’s late father Maulana Rashid Ahmed was a prominent Islamic scholar. M Shahadat Hossain Taslim also did various social welfare works in his native at South Sadar of Comilla district.
“I thought that it’s time to do something for helpless people who are facing the adverse situation. Then I’ve started the journey by establishing a foundation in my father’s name from my sense of human responsibility during the beginning of Corona outbreak with a group of volunteers to bury dead body and victims,” Taslim told the New Nation. Before, a team of ICRC led by its official Jeniffer Hughes visited office of the Al Rashid Foundation and exchanged view with the foundation’s volunteers and give those gifts. After getting the Health Ministry’s approval, Taslim financed to buy one freezer and two ambulances for taking of Corona patient and dead body.
Country’s apex trade body FBCCI, donated a freezing ambulance to the foundation to carry dead body. Till now, this non-profitable foundation buried more than 800 dead bodies.
The foundation runs its all kinds of operational activities from its Agargoan’s office in the city. A team including three female volunteers and a trained experienced Islamic knowledge based Alim are working with the foundation.
