Bashundhara Foundation distributed Tk 3 million in the 71st segment of interest-free loans among 200 insolvent people in Haripur village of Homna in Comilla on Wednesday.

The non-profit arm of Bashundhara Group handed out the loan on Monday as part of its longstanding efforts to change the fate of poverty-stricken people.

Kaler Kantho Chief Editor Imdadul Haq Milan was the chief guest while Bashundhara Group advisor Maynal Hossain Chowdhury presided over the session.

Pediatric Surgeon Dr Delwar Hossain of Dhaka Medical College & Hospital, Homna municipal mayor Advocate Nazrul Islam, Bashundhara Foundation deputy general manager Maimun Kabirr and Bancharampur Government College faculty Chan Mia Sarkar were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the programme, writer Imdadul Haq Milan said that Bashundhara Group has been distributing ‘interest-free’ loans to empower underprivileged communities in rural areas over the years.

“It’s not only an example of humanity in Bangladesh, but also in the world. The main objective of Bashundhara Group is to use this loan properly to become financially self-sufficient and educate her children with good education,” he said.

Advisor Maynal Hossain Chowdhury said that the Foundation commenced an interest and service charge-free loan disbursement programme under the direct supervision of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan in 2005.

“About 30 thousand destitute people have been benefited under this loan since its inception. This is a rare event in the history of the world in terms of disbursement and collection of this loan. Not a single penny of which is still unpaid,” he said.

Bashundhara Foundation on Wednesday distributed a total of Tk 3 million to 200 poor and underprivileged people equally. The borrowers will repay the loan becoming financially independent through 33 schemes of Bashundhara Group with interest-free loans.