What began in 2012 with a university student using his private tutoring earnings to teach street children has grown into a humanitarian organisation working across Bangladesh and beyond. As Mastul Foundation completes 14 years and enters its 15th, its activities span education, food assistance, healthcare, shelter, employment and disaster response.
Founded by Kazi Reaz Rahman, the foundation has expanded from a small volunteer initiative into an organisation supporting disadvantaged communities at home and people affected by humanitarian crises abroad. Alongside emergency assistance, it seeks to help families build sustainable livelihoods and become self-reliant.
Mastul describes itself as a non-profit, non-political and voluntary humanitarian organisation registered with Bangladesh's NGO Affairs Bureau. It operates under relevant approvals and registrations, including those associated with the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms.
The foundation's beginnings were modest. During his university years, Reaz used savings from private tutoring to teach children living on the streets. A small group of young volunteers supported the initiative, which gradually expanded to address other needs, including food security, healthcare, housing and employment.
Helping people move beyond immediate hardship remains a central objective of its work.
One of its key initiatives uses zakat and sadaqah funds to help disadvantaged people capable of earning a living become self-reliant. By providing resources for small businesses and other income-generating activities, the foundation aims to create sustainable earning opportunities for families.
It also supports young people seeking employment or opportunities to start businesses through Shariah-compliant initiatives. Its long-term goal is to help recipients support their own families and eventually become able to assist others.
Daily meals with dignity
Through its Meheman Khana initiative, Mastul provides freshly prepared meals free of charge every day at 15 locations in the capital. The programme serves disadvantaged people, pedestrians, labourers and low-income communities.
The foundation says its approach to food assistance extends beyond addressing hunger. Preserving the dignity of those receiving support is equally important.
Education and shelter for children and older people
Mastul operates a madrasa, orphanage and shelter home in the Barikhali area of Hazaribagh, Dhaka. These facilities provide disadvantaged and orphaned children with education, nutritious food, healthcare, and moral and religious guidance.
The foundation is also constructing the 10-storey Mastul Islamic Shelterhome Complex to provide safe and dignified accommodation for homeless older people and those living in isolation.
The planned complex will include a mosque, madrasa, school, orphanage and modern residential care facilities for older people. The project forms part of the foundation's efforts to provide long-term shelter and care for vulnerable children and elderly people.
Responding to disasters and emergencies
Mastul's emergency work has included arranging burials for unclaimed and unidentified bodies during the Covid-19 pandemic and providing relief during the floods of 2022, 2024 and 2026. It has distributed food and essential supplies to affected communities.
According to the foundation, it arranges burials for unclaimed bodies with approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs. It has also taken an initiative to establish a facility at Dhaka Medical College for washing bodies before burial, with government approval.
These activities are part of its wider efforts to support people during disasters and emergencies, when access to basic services and assistance can be severely disrupted.
Humanitarian assistance beyond Bangladesh
The foundation's activities have extended to people affected by the earthquake in Türkiye and humanitarian crises in Palestine's Gaza Strip, Sudan and Nepal.
Since 2024, Mastul says it has worked to deliver assistance to children, injured people and families affected by war, blockade, food shortages and medical emergencies in Gaza. Its support has included nutritious food, essential medicines and other humanitarian supplies.
The foundation says civilians, particularly children, bear the greatest burden of war and conflict. It has pledged to continue providing food and medical assistance in Gaza through public contributions and available resources.
It also aims to provide assistance based on the needs of communities affected by natural disasters, conflicts and humanitarian emergencies elsewhere in the world.
Self-reliance and accountability
Mastul Foundation Founder and Executive Director Kazi Reaz Rahman said, "The primary purpose of everything we do is to seek the pleasure of Almighty Allah and stand beside people in need. We believe that while providing immediate assistance is important, creating opportunities for people to become self-reliant is even more meaningful. Similarly, when people face humanitarian crises anywhere in the world, it is our responsibility to stand beside them to the best of our ability."
He added, "The love and support of the people of Bangladesh have been the greatest source of strength throughout Mastul's journey. We want to ensure that people's zakat, sadaqah and donations are used appropriately to build a system in which assistance does not merely meet an immediate need but creates opportunities to transform lives."
As it enters its 15th year, the foundation is taking steps to strengthen its management and expand its operations.
Under Reaz's leadership, former senior secretary MA Akmal Hossain Azad is serving as chief executive officer. Retired major general Iftekhar-ul-Alam has joined the organisation as a director.
Former additional inspector general of Bangladesh Police Matiur Rahman is serving as chief public relations officer, with responsibility for strengthening the foundation's public relations and communication activities.
Mastul says experienced leadership and professional management will help make its humanitarian programmes more effective, transparent and accountable. It emphasises regular audits and financial transparency to maintain donor confidence.
Its zakat and sadaqah programmes are conducted under the supervision of a Shariah board to ensure that funds are managed in accordance with Islamic principles.
Entering a new chapter
For Mastul, humanitarian service encompasses more than distributing relief. Its work includes providing children with a safe environment and access to education, helping low-income families establish sources of income, offering secure accommodation to older people and arranging medical treatment for those in need.
That approach also extends to delivering food and medicine to families affected by war.
Over 14 years, the initiative that began with lessons for street children has grown with the support of volunteers, donors and communities across Bangladesh.
As it enters its 15th year, the foundation aims to expand its activities across the country while continuing to assist vulnerable communities internationally. Its stated priorities remain protecting human dignity, promoting self-reliance and supporting people through periods of hardship.