As the world faced a pandemic of historic proportions, our foundation — Siraj Mia Memorial Foundation — believed it was our duty to act. Here is what we did over the course of the first month of the Bangladesh lockdown.
What We Did
When Covid-19 first arrived in Bangladesh, many people were slow to react. From our foundation, we held emergency meetings and concluded that masks were the first line of defence. We distributed 10,000 triple-layered surgical masks across Badda immediately.
As lockdowns were imposed, the first people to suffer were day labourers, rickshaw pullers, and others in low-income daily work. With no savings and no work, they were on the streets despite the risk. We distributed 110 tonnes of rice alongside other essentials — enough for a family of four to survive 14 days, calculated against the initial two-week lockdown period.
As weeks passed and companies began laying off employees, middle-class families — people who worked for a living and had no safety net — were now struggling silently. We set up drop boxes in front of Siraj Mia Memorial Model School where families could submit their address anonymously. Our foundation then delivered 10 days of essentials directly to their homes, maintaining full anonymity. Families could reapply every 10 days.
As of 20 April 2020, Siraj Mia Memorial Foundation distributed 200 tonnes of essential materials, directly supporting over 6,000 families during the lockdown.
Ramadan Relief
As the holy month of Ramadan approached during the lockdown, we prepared a special Ramadan essentials package — thoughtfully curated so that the families we reached would not need to leave their homes for the entire month.
Our Activities in Pictures
What This Taught Us
The pandemic reinforced something we already believed: institutions embedded in their communities can respond faster than government or large NGOs. We knew the streets of Badda. We knew which families were too proud to ask for help publicly. That local knowledge made all the difference.
It also reinforced the importance of maintaining a foundation that is financially stable and operationally ready — not just active during crises, but prepared for them before they arrive.