Bangladesh Freedom Foundation, UTSA, a local NGO and Media Professionals group (MPG) jointly organised the meeting titled, 'Practising Philanthropy in Bangladesh and its Impacts on Human Life'.

Held at Nasirabad Lions' Foundation Auditorium recently, speakers dwelt on prospects and problems of charity works in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, philanthropy had been a major source of income for humanitarian causes, speakers said.

The meeting was presided by NGO organiser Abul Bashar.

Chittagong City Corporation Acting Mayor M Manjur Alam was present as chief guest while UTSA executive director (ED) gave the welcome address.

Journalist Ramen Das Gupta, Chittagong representative of MPG placed his three-page key-note paper on 'Practising Philanthropy in Bangladesh: Chittagong Perspective.'

In his paper, he depicted a vivid picture of philanthropic acts in Chittagong from time immemorial. He cited the examples of century-old Probortok Sangha and Mostafa Hakim Welfare Foundation.

Among others, Ward Commission Advocate Rehana Begum Banu, Advocate M A Nasser, Mohammad Shahidul Alam, Social Welfare Directorate assistant director Rashida Khatun, Chittagong Press Club general secretary (GS) Ezaz Yusufi and Shamim Shikder of MPG were present.

In a similar meeting in Khulna, speakers recalled the charitable acts of pilanthropist Brojolal Shastri.

MPG Khulna representative, journalist SM Habib, in his report, mentioned the names of Brojolal University College founded by great philanthropist Brojolal Shastri and century-old Umesh Chandra Library.

BFF, Ado, a local NGO, and MPG jointly organised the meeting which was attended, among others, by BFF Trustee and The Daily Tribune Editor Begum Ferdousi Ali, educationist researcher Prof Asit Baran Ghosh, Dainik Janokantho staff reporter Gourango Nandi and New Age staff reporter Tapos Kanti and Shamim Shikder of MPG.

In his introductory address, BFF programme officer Shamimul Islam said BFF is now engaged in a country-wide research work on 'Practising Philanthropy in Bangladesh'. Names of organisations and individuals who were engaged in charity work are being enlisted, he said.