Kazi Reaz Rahman’s MASTUL foundation marks 14 years of social impact

MASTUL Foundation has completed 14 years of humanitarian service and entered its 15th year, marking a journey that began with efforts to educate street children and has since expanded to include food assistance, education, healthcare, shelter, livelihood development and emergency humanitarian response.

Founded in 2012 by social worker Kazi Reaz Rahman, MASTUL started as a youth-led initiative to support children living on the streets. Over the years, the organisation has broadened its activities to serve disadvantaged children, low-income families, disaster-affected communities and people facing humanitarian crises, with a focus on improving living conditions and creating opportunities for a more secure future.

A central part of the Foundation’s work is its effort to turn charitable giving into sustainable livelihoods. Through its zakat-based self-reliance programme, MASTUL supports eligible low-income families and unemployed individuals with income-generating resources such as small-business capital, rickshaws, sewing machines and livestock. The initiative aims to help beneficiaries establish stable sources of income, become financially independent and, over time, improve their families’ circumstances.

The Foundation also operates MASTUL Mehmankhana, which provides free, freshly prepared meals to disadvantaged people at designated locations in Dhaka. The programme serves people who often struggle to meet their daily food needs, including street-connected individuals, rickshaw pullers, day labourers and other low-income communities. Alongside food assistance, MASTUL works to support children who lack adequate care and access to essential services through education, orphan care and shelter initiatives.

At its facility in the Baraikhali area of Hazaribagh, Dhaka, disadvantaged and orphaned children receive support for education, nutrition, healthcare and moral and religious development. The Foundation also has plans for a broader Islamic Shelter Home Complex intended to bring together facilities for children, educational and religious learning, and care for elderly people who lack family support. The initiative reflects MASTUL’s longer-term ambition to provide vulnerable people with a safe environment and access to essential services.

Beyond its regular programmes, MASTUL has undertaken humanitarian initiatives in response to natural disasters and emergencies. Its work in Bangladesh has included flood relief and assistance to affected communities, as well as support for the burial of unclaimed bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation has also extended humanitarian assistance beyond Bangladesh, including efforts connected with the Türkiye earthquake, Gaza, Sudan and Nepal. Since 2024, it has supported relief efforts for people affected by the crisis in Gaza, including children, injured people and vulnerable families, through food, medicines and other essential assistance.

MASTUL’s international initiatives reflect its view that humanitarian responsibility extends beyond geographical boundaries and that timely assistance must be delivered with dignity and compassion. Through its work in Bangladesh and overseas, the Foundation seeks to respond to immediate needs while supporting longer-term recovery and resilience among vulnerable communities.

The Foundation places importance on accountability and the responsible management of charitable contributions. Its zakat and sadaqah activities are conducted under the supervision of a Shariah Board, with an emphasis on ensuring that donations are used appropriately for their intended purposes. MASTUL also recognises the importance of financial transparency, audit reporting and public trust in sustaining its humanitarian programmes.

Speaking about the Foundation’s journey, Founder and Executive Director Kazi Reaz Rahman said that its work is driven by the aspiration to serve humanity for the pleasure of Almighty Allah and to help people overcome hardship with dignity. He emphasised that humanitarian assistance should go beyond meeting immediate needs wherever possible, creating opportunities for education, employment and income generation so that people can move towards self-reliance and a more sustainable future.

He also acknowledged the contribution of donors, volunteers, partners and well-wishers, whose support has helped sustain the Foundation’s initiatives. Their continued involvement, he said, remains important to reaching vulnerable communities and responding to emerging humanitarian needs.