Published on 12:00 AM, April 30, 2020

Community-built market lets distressed families shop for free

At the Bondhutter Bazar at Uttara’s Sector 6, items are labelled with points instead of price tags. Thank You Foundation allows those without privilege to shop here for free, upto 500 points per week. Photo: Collected
Muntakim Saad

Imagine a market where anyone can buy daily essentials, but instead of money, they use friendship points!

Non-profit organisation "Thank You Foundation" has implemented such an initiative named "Bondhutter Bazar" (Friendship Market) in Uttara, in a bid to stand beside the poor and needy during the tough times of shutdown.

The organisation has been providing the underprivileged with food aid since the beginning of the pandemic. To expand their programme, they launched the market on April 25, in Uttara Sector-6.

Ashik Faruqui, founding president of the organisation, said economically distressed families will be able to shop from Bondhutter Bazar for free.

"We have put points on the products. A person can shop for a maximum of 500 points per week. It's enough for a four to five-member family," Ashik said.

The market will remain open from 10am to noon throughout the month of Ramadan from Saturdays through Thursdays.

The initiative is funded by Thank You Foundation. However, if anyone wants to contribute they can do so in the following ways: 01703979767 (bKash); 347 891 9280 (USA, Canada); +817016710421 (Japan)

To contact Thank You Foundation, one may call 01918802894, 01676940102, or reach out via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ThankuFoundation.

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