Organised charity in Qurbani

As the Muslims in Bangladesh celebrated Eid-ul-Adha last week along with the followers of the ummah worldwide, a heartening development makes the celebration more inclusive. Several people and organisations have arranged systematic distribution of sacrificed animals' meat during the Qurbani Eid. This annual religious ritual not only provides an opportunity for millions of Muslims in the country to sacrifice various domestic animals according to their financial ability, but also brings joy to those who are usually deprived. The ultimate spirit of the ritual is to develop a charitable attitude with humbleness and care so that a Muslim can be ready to forego any materialistic asset in the name of Allah and extend a helping hand to any human who is in trouble, thereby making a significant impact on the lives of the beneficiaries.
As many people in the country have yet to get the minimum amount of protein from meat throughout the year, Qurbani brings a unique occasion to fill in the gap, at least to some extent. Food Security Statistics 2023, released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), showed that the availability of meat for consumption per capita per year in 2016 was only 3.78 kg, which increased to 4.32 kg in 2021. Though the ratio is an average estimate, it indicates that a large portion of the population cannot buy or collect a minimum amount of meat-based protein, whereas well-off people over-consume meat. It also reflects the growing socio-economic disparity in the country.
Over the years, some charitable organisations have been trying to mobilise Qurbani. They encouraged abled Muslims to donate a portion of their share to the poor and needy. These organisations procure the sacrificial animals, supervise slaughtering and distribution of half of the meat to those who contribute and the rest to the poor. The meat distribution usually occurs in various remote areas of the country that are difficult to reach. The Quantum Foundation once arranged Qurbani at Lama in Bandarban district, where all the meat of the sacrificial animals had been distributed among the hilly people. Encouraged by the initiatives, some more organisations have also come ahead. Again, a tradition of distributing meat among the poor and needy by some wealthy families is always there in various villages and peri-urban areas of the country.
This year, the As-Sunnah Foundation stepped forward to conduct Qurabni and distribute meat among poor people. Ovijatrik Samaj Kollyan Sangsth, another charity organisation, also arranged for Qurabni in the northern part of the country. These organisations have been engaged in various charitable works for the welfare of society. As many in the country and abroad want to contribute to the deprived section of society, they find these organisations trustworthy for proper use of their donations for the intended purpose.
The good deeds, however, are not easy for obvious reasons. Finding the right beneficiaries requires hectic work and necessary cooperation from the local communities. In some cases, local political leaders and anti-social elements create barriers to work and demand some share of the donation. In some cases, a lack of necessary support from the government agencies also makes the task difficult. Nevertheless, those who devoted themselves to the charitable works are ready to accept any challenge and put in best of efforts to overcome the barriers. The strength of these kinds of organisations is their transparency. Thanks to social media and virtual platforms, these organisations regularly update the progress reports of their works, ensuring that people can trust that their donations are being used for the right cause.

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