Although the ongoing second wave of the global pandemic of COVID-19 has put a halt to the livelihoods of many communities, Bidyanondo Foundation, known for taking initiatives to serve the marginalised people in the country, stood beside the transgender community through its latest relief initiative in the capital.

The humanitarian organization distributed food packages to a number of people from the marginalised community in Savar on Sunday.

Earlier, it served transgender people food items across different areas in the capital including Vatara, Merul Badda, TSC area of Dhaka University, Mugda and other places on Friday.

Bidyanondo informed UNB that the distribution was initiated upon the request of social activist, media personality and country’s first-ever transgender news anchor Tashnuva Anan.

“Although we have been working for the community-based people for a while now even long before the pandemic, this recent initiative was implemented after we receive the request from Tashnuva Anan. Throughout our two-day campaign, we have served 205 people with a food package consisting of 10 kg rice, 3 kg lentils, 1 kg salt, 1 kg chickpeas and 5 packets of noodles,” Salman Khan Yeasin, Head of Image and Communication at Bidyanondo, told UNB.

“I am really happy and grateful that Bidyanondo answered my request within an unimaginably short period of time. They were really helpful and conscious throughout the distribution process. As a representative of the community, I cooperated with them and I am really glad to be a part of it,” Tashnuva Anan shared her side of the initiative with UNB.

Both Bidyanondo and Tashnuva Anan have mentioned that the project will continue outside the city as well soon.

Popularly known among the netizens for unconditionally and voluntarily serving the poor and marginal communities with various socio-economic projects and initiatives, Bidyanondo Foundation has been effectively operating multiple projects across the country, such as ensuring iftar and sehri meals for the underprivileged people in the ongoing month of holy Ramadan, in cooperation with Bangladesh Defense Forces.

“We have upcoming projects in our list to distribute food items to the other marginal communities including prostitutes, serpent-gipsies, and other floating community people in the urban and rural areas, as we are committed to ensuring our service for all who are in dire straits,” Salman Khan Yeasin informed UNB about its upcoming projects.

The organization is urging the capable Muslim population of the society to donate the amount of Zakat-Fitra to the foundation as the Eid-ul-Fitr is on its way. Details of the donation process can be found on its Facebook page.