Source: Courtesy

Source: Courtesy

“Every year there are people who can afford to give zakat to people other than relatives and neighbours," says Riyad Shahir Ahmed Husain, one of the founders of Zakat Connect. "They have the money, but it is not going towards any sustainable cost. People give away lungis and sarees, but if the zakah money could be channelled properly to the people who need to meet specific costs, lives could be changed."
Also co-founded by Munazer Chowdhury, Amer Khan and Navin Ahmed, Zakat Connect faces many challenges, one of them being gaining access to people. "The ideal way would be to give TK 10,000 to a needy person who could build a shop to create means of livelihood," explains Riyad. "Zakat connect is nothing but a bridge or a platform to connect the neediest with the people who want to help the needy."
Team Zakat Connect is planning a website where people living abroad can give charity via credit card. "But we have not been able to establish this yet," he says. "Meanwhile, we are using social media to connect with people. To date, the zakat money we have distributed has successfully led at least 10 people to buy rickshaws for themselves. We have also distributed more than 10-15 thousand dollars to victims of the Rana Plaza tragedy."
Zakat Connect consists of a small and an honest team of young professionals who are trying to make a difference in Bangladesh. For more information or questions, visit facebook.com/zakatconnect.