‘EkDesh’, the first online crowdfunding platform which brings together individual donors, the government and social and non-profit organizations together to make it easier for the latter to receive and distribute Zakat and relief funds, has been launched.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for ICT Division inaugurated the platform on Friday via the online video conferencing. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, President, Bangladesh Scouts and former Principal Coordinator (SDGs) of the Prime Minister’s Office, was present during the inauguration.
NM Zeaul Alam, Senior Secretary, ICT Division presided over the online ceremony and Mr. Tohurul Hasan, Program Manager, Digital Financial Services, a2i presented the details about ‘Ek Desh’.
Individuals or organizations willing to donate Zakat or any sort of relief payment out of humanity for businesses and low income populations whose income and livelihoods have been adversely affected by the coronavirus outbreak in the country, can do so through the web platform of ‘EkDesh’ (https:ekdesh.ekpay.gov.bd) or through the ‘EkDesh’ Android app.
The a2i Programme of the ICT Division developed the platform using a crowdfunding model and incorporated it with Ek Pay, the one-stop payment platform also developed by a2i. Any individual wanting to pay Zakat or willing to donate can donate any amount to a government/non-government organization through any Banking Channel or a Mobile Financial Service (bKash, Nagad, Rocket, etc.).
EkDesh will ensure the amount donated will reach the underprivileged population of the country. The Prime Minister’s Emergency Relief Fund for Covid-19, the Islamic Foundation, BRAC, Bidyanondo Foundation, Center for Zakat Management, CRP and Sajeda Foundation are incorporated in this platform.
Funds intended for the purpose of food assistance, medical assistance, cash assistance, etc. can be donated to the organization of choice, who will distribute it accordingly.
While addressing Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, “EkDesh will act as a bridge between the donor and the recipient. Famine occurs not because of the lack of food, rather due to the absence of distribution channels.
EkDesh has been developed to ensure the food and relief payments reach those in need. After the coronavirus situation is over, we will use this platform to ensure communities receive Zakat and other donations through public-private partnership.”
He further addressed the contributions of the government, the private sector and non-government and social organizations in assisting the population and businesses who have been affected and in actively participating in the fight against coronavirus.
He mentioned that government initiatives led by Prime Minister’s Emergency Relief Fund distributed food and cash assistance to more than 5 crore people in the country, BRAC took an initiative to distribute 1,500 taka to two lakh families in cash assistance, Bidyanondo Foundation distributed ten days’ worth food rations to people who lost their jobs during Covid-19 in collaboration with the Armed Forces as well as daily cook and feed 24,000 food deprived citizens in Dhaka and Chattogram and sprinkle 9000 liters of disinfectants in hospitals and roads, the CRP is providing masks and sanitizers to disabled patients, their carers and visitors in 12 centers across the country in addition to providing gowns, masks, gloves and goggles to CRP patients, Center for Zakat Management has set a target of meeting the basic needs of 2.5 lakh poor and disadvantaged people, and Sajeda Foundation has dedicated their hospital in Narayanganj entirely for the treatment of Covid-19 patients with a new ICT with ventilator facilities and dialysis machines set up in addition to distributing food and medicine packages to 38,000 families at risk.
