Radisson's iftar for underprivileged childred

Packets of meagre food are handed down to a malnourished populace. Down-trodden beneficiaries, standing in haphazard queues or at best sitting on carpeted floors, anxiously wait for their packets. Makeshift tents, parking lots, or unused spaces accommodate the exaggerated affair. Ambience falls short of the expectations in many well-intended 'feed-the-needy' programmes. But there are exceptions -- Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel Dhaka's Responsible Business Program members discarded the conventional ways and stood out from the crowd.
On the 28 July 2013, Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel Dhaka's Responsible Business Program members organised an iftar gathering with 150 underprivileged children supported by Population Services and Training Centre (PSTC), an NGO operating since 1978 for the welfare of the poor and the socially marginalised. The event was held in the spacious, well-lit, immaculately clean Uthshab Hall at the hotel premises. The event began at 5.30 p.m. as per schedule. After a brief eloquent Quran recital and 'munajat,' Saeed Ahmed, the Interim General Manager of Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel Dhaka, delivered an opening speech and welcomed the guests. Brig. Gen. Jahangir Alom psc (Retd.), Managing Director of Sena Hotel Developments Limited, was also present in the occasion.
The event commendably provided adequate dining facilities with luxurious tables, chairs, and eating utensils for the children. Social class distinctions were cast aside at least for a day as the children were made to share the same space as staff members, media personalities, and other guests. Gleeful children were seen playing about freely within the hall. Mouth-watering items such as 'lassi,' lemonade, 'pakora,' 'jilapi' 'haleem,' chicken 'korma,' 'polao' rice, and beef curry, were served for iftar and dinner.
Radisson Blu Water Garden Dhaka's Responsible Business Program regularly organises CSR activities of varying scale. Tree plantation campaigns, clean-up drives, and distribution of hygiene and grooming essentials such as soaps and shampoos among the deprived, are a few examples.