Al-Markazul Islami
Al-Markazul Islami is a non-governmental, nonprofit, and non-political charitable organization based in Bangladesh. Established in 1988 by Shahidul Islam, it focuses on providing services to underprivileged communities, combining Islamic values with social welfare initiatives. Its activities include healthcare, education, access to clean water, religious programs, and humanitarian aid. It was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic for playing a role in managing the burial of the deceased, particularly in Dhaka, where it handled about 6,500 cases under authorization from the Directorate General of Health Services. It has collaborated with international bodies such as the United Nations Development Programme to enhance its humanitarian efforts. In 2025, it was also involved in organizing a march for Gaza, advocating for Palestinian rights and condemning Israeli military actions.
History
Al-Markazul Islami was founded in 1988 by Shahidul Islam and several associates. Initially, it engaged in religious education, healthcare services, and ambulance operations. In the early 1990s, it established its office in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. Currently, it owns properties on Babar Road and in Shyamoli, and manages various activities on approximately 160 bighas of land in Sirajnagar Union, Keraniganj Upazila. It operates several Qawmi and women's madrasas and has participated in the establishment of numerous mosques and madrasas across Bangladesh. It has installed tube wells to ensure access to clean drinking water in remote areas and has provided free medical services to visually impaired individuals, as well as free surgical treatments for patients with cleft lips and palates. Its affiliated institution, Al-Markazul Islami Hospital, is in Mohammadpur. The organization has been extending funeral services since 1993, and by 2021, had facilitated the burial of approximately 135,000 people. In August 2019, during the second anniversary of the Rohingya exodus from Myanmar, it supplied white T-shirts and vests to participants at a mass gathering in Madhurchhara Field, Kutupalong, Ukhiya, after which, on September 4, the Cox’s Bazar district administration prohibited its activities in the Rohingya camps. In February 2023, in response to the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, it dispatched 2,000 body bags for humanitarian assistance. During the 2024 floods in Bangladesh, the organization launched free medical camps beginning on August 25, providing healthcare to about 13,000 people, and continued operations until September, distributing 55 metric tons of food and 15,000 units of 5-liter purified water bottles, conducting rescue missions, and recovering bodies from flood-affected areas; additionally, the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Feni arranged accommodation for its workers at the Shilpakala Academy. It has been recognized by Nagad Islamic as a Sharia-compliant platform for zakat.
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh in 2020, the Directorate General of Health Services sought assistance from Al-Markazul Islami for the burial of those who had died or were suspected to have died from the virus. The organization agreed to the request and formally initiated its funeral operations on March 29, burying the body of a woman suspected to have died of COVID-19 in Khilgaon-Taltola, Dhaka. Initially, it had a team of 17 workers, including three women, and four ambulances to manage the burial of deceased COVID-19 patients and suspected cases. As the situation worsened, another 22 ambulances were placed on reserve. By January 2021, the organization had facilitated 3,205 burials across the country, mostly in Dhaka, of both Muslims and non-Muslims. In handling the deceased, the organization adhered to World Health Organization protocols. It developed its own procedures aligned with WHO recommendations, which involved spraying the body with a solution of 60% alcohol and 40% water, followed by thorough washing using a pumping machine to complete the ritual washing or ablution. On January 27, 2021, to encourage public participation in vaccination, Hamza Islam, the acting chairman of Al-Markazul Islami, became the first ulama in Bangladesh to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. By September 2021, Al-Markazul Islami had managed the shrouding and burial of more than 6,500 bodies in Dhaka City alone, including that of Anisuzzaman, Bangladesh's former National Professor. In an effort to simplify the complex procedures surrounding the burial of COVID-19 victims, and to promote health safety and public awareness, Al-Markazul Islami, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, organized training sessions in 2020 across ten districts, including Dhaka, Sylhet, Khulna, Barisal, and Cox's Bazar. In each area, a 10-member team was formed to handle burials.
Standing with Palestine
On October 7, 2024, Al-Markazul Islami organized a discussion program in Dhaka titled "Nusrat al-Aqsa" to express solidarity with the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem; the event, at the Engineers Institution Auditorium, included three non-Muslim speakers. On April 12, 2025, the organization held the "March for Gaza," at which about 100,000 people protested Israeli military actions and expressed support for Hamas and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. On April 16, 2025, it was reported that Al-Markazul Islami had launched an initiative to bring injured Palestinians to Bangladesh for free medical treatment and vocational training, with an initial plan to accommodate around 5,000 people wounded in Israeli military offensives, and preparations underway to receive the first 1,000 patients once the facilities were ready.
Donors
Since its establishment, Al-Markazul Islami has expanded its operations with financial support from religious people across the country, as well as donations from wealthy donors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and other Middle Eastern countries. On May 14, 2021, students from the 26th batch of the University of Chittagong donated personal protective equipment and other safety materials to the organization. On June 5, the Salma-Adil Foundation donated various essential items for the burial of people who had died of COVID-19. On June 19, Grameen Telecom provided health protection supplies. On August 16, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association donated burial garments and materials for 100 women and 100 men, along with BDT 300,000. On August 29, Eastern Bank Limited donated a freezer van. On November 27, the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh donated BDT 1 million. On April 12, 2023, the BGMEA provided financial support and clothing to Markazul Fiqhil Islami to aid in the education of its students.