On February 1, 2013, Bangladeshi member of parliament His Excellency Mosharraff Hossain and community members came together to inaugurate a new school in Moulana Para, about 95 miles from the capital, Dhaka. Zakat Foundation of America distributed backpacks to the children present as part of the celebration.
The Hifzul Quran Madrasa began as donated land in 2010. With support from Zakat Foundation of America, construction was finished in time to begin classes in January, 2013. The school’s eight students live and study onsite free of charge. The madrasa has two full-time teachers, one for religious instruction and the other covering math, English and science in preparation for secondary school.
The 11-member executive committee that governs the madrasa plans to gradually and sustainably increase the size of the student body and add a second-story teachers’ residence to the school.
Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest countries, also has one of the lowest literacy rates in Southeast Asia. Approximately 35% of enrolled children do not complete primary school because of family responsibilities at home, inadequate school facilities and overcrowded classrooms.