This article was originally published in the online news site, Prothom Alo English Desk on May 11, 2021. To read the original article, click here. 

YES Alumni Bangladesh Association, who organised Project Ramadan 6.0 with an aim to raise funds to support the less fortunate, has provided 255 underprivileged families of Dhaka with rations.

The funds to purchase rations were raised through donations from online fundraising campaigns throughout the month of Ramadan from the United States and Australia in addition to Bangladesh. The rations were distributed among underprivileged people in three locations – Tejgaon, Motijheel, and Mohammadpur.

Project Ramadan 6.0 was coordinated by Zumara Marjan (YES 2018-2019, Bangladesh, placed with AYUSA in Richmond, TX) Rubaiyet Islam (YES 2019-2019, Bangladesh, placed with World Link in Fort Collins, CO) and Fayad Khan (YES 2018-2019, Bangladesh, placed with CIEE in Lake Stevens, WA). 

Project Ramadan 6.0, is the sixth edition of an annual project by YES Alumni Bangladesh which aims to raise funds through donations from the general public to feed the poverty-stricken people of Dhaka city.

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed thousands of Dhaka city residents into poverty and destitution. The donations received for this project were used to buy rations for these people so that they can have enough food for the last few days of Ramadan and for celebrating Eid. Each family was provided with approximately a week’s worth of rations.

Zumara Marjan, a coordinator of Project Ramadan 6.0 said, “Keeping the current state of lockdown in mind, we wanted to help the underprivileged people through the last days of Ramadan and allow them to have an enjoyable Eid with their families.”

“We hope that this project has provided courage and support to those in need, as well as inspire others to take a stand so that no one ever has to go to bed with an empty stomach.”

“We hope that this annual project of YES Alumni Bangladesh continues in the following years as future alumni members take up the mantle and create even greater impacts by aiming to help more people from the underprivileged community.”

Recipients were extremely grateful to receive these rations which are hoped to sustain them throughout the last week of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr without having to be concerned about how to manage their next meal.

Md. Mostafa of Nakhalpara, one of the recipients, said, “We’re suffering a lot during this lockdown. We can’t work much. It is very difficult to feed my family. These rations are equivalent to 15 days’ wages for me and will help me and my family a lot. I am very grateful for this support.”

The organisers of Project Ramadan 6.0 worked tirelessly even during the pandemic to provide support to those in need while maintaining all safety precautions.