State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Friday inaugurated digital crowd funding platform ‘EkDesh’ to collect donations for indigent people amid coronavirus pandemic, reports UNB.
Palak formally inaugurated the platform through a videoconference, calling it “a bridge between aid providers and receivers”.
“Famine does not emerge due to lack of food but for absence of proper distribution. We’ll march towards proper distribution by making the bridge with financial help and zakat of all people,” the state minister said.
A place of accountability and transparency has been established by launching country’s first crowdsourcing platform, he said.
For donation, people have to visit https://ekdesh.ekpay.gov.bd/ or download the mobile app, said a press release.
Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, Islamic Foundation, Brac, Bidyanondo Foundation, Center for Zakat Management, CRP, and Sajida Foundation have been included here as donation receivers.
Access to Information (a2i) has built the platform where donations can be made through debit/credit cards or mobile payment/digital wallet.
Expatriates will also be able to participate with their remittance to build up humanitarian fund through the app with the help of Bangladesh Bank, the state minister said.
The platform was launched as a large number of people in the country fell into poverty during the shutdown enforced by the government to prevent the transmission of coronavirus or COVID-19.