Shawdesh Desk:

Bashundhara Foundation has distributed the 67th segment of interest-free loan among insolvent and distressed people at Durgarampur in Bancharampur under Brahmanbaria.

The non-profit and social development venture of the Bashundhara Group came up with the loan distribution on Monday as part of its longstanding efforts to change fate of the helpless and hapless.

According to sources, 431 people received Tk 64.65 lakh. Of them, 187 people got Tk 15,000 each taking a total of Tk 28.05 lakh in the first phase while 244 received Tk 15,000 each totaling Tk 36.60 lakh in the second phase.

Noted litterateur Imdadul Haq Milan, Editor-in-Chief of the Kaler Kantho, attended the loan disbursement programme as the chief guest while East West Media Group Ltd Publisher Maynal Hossain Chowdhury presided over it.

In his speech, Imdadul Haq Milan said “The interest-free loan is aimed at pushing the ultra-poor to solvency. Bashundhara Group has set a rare example in integrating the backward section of the people into the mainstream society.”

Terming interest-free loan a model, he said the society will rapidly change if affluent people follow the example of Bashundhara Foundation.

Maynal Hossain Chowdhury said “Bashundhara Group is dedicated to welfare of the country and its people. As many as 25,344 disadvantaged people have benefited from the collateral and interest free loan so far.”

Md Maymun Kabir, DGM of Bashundhara Foundation, Md Mosharraf Hossain, manager of the organisation, Md Amir Hossain Anwar, its senior officer, Zakaria Zaman, director of Shuvosangho, among others, were present.