Gaibandha, 14 May 2025
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Gaibandha Unit successfully organized a follow-up workshop on Unit-Level Resource Mobilization Strategy at SKS Inn, Gaibandha. Supported by the Fundraising Department of BDRCS, the workshop brought together government officials, community leaders, executive members, volunteers, and life members to review progress and strengthen future initiatives.
The session was chaired by Professor Dr. Moinul Hasan Sadiq, Secretary of the Gaibandha Unit, and facilitated by Dr. Shahana Zafor, Director of Fundraising, along with Md. Towfiqul Islam Sikder, Officer, Communication and Digital Fundraising. A total of 36 participants, including the Deputy Commissioner of Gaibandha, police representatives, education officials, Red Crescent Youth (RCY) volunteers, and members of the local business community, actively engaged in the discussions.
The workshop highlighted key achievements since the initial consultation in 2024, including:
- Enrolment of over 260 new life members, contributing BDT 800,000 to the unit fund.
- Launch of the Gaibandha Unit’s Facebook page to initiate digital donation campaigns.
- Commitment from the District Council to allocate funds for upcoming development activities, including construction of the Unit Office’s second floor.
- Strengthened collaboration with Zilla Parishad for future annual allocations.
Participants also identified challenges, such as limited private sector partnerships and the need for a structured donor database. To address these, the workshop emphasized digital fundraising as an essential tool. RCY volunteers received hands-on training in designing online campaigns, learning how to use social media platforms, storytelling techniques, and digital donation gateways like bKash, Nagad, and the BDRCS donation portal.
The Deputy Commissioner of Gaibandha pledged BDT 1,000,000 for infrastructure of Unit’s second floor, while participants agreed on several actionable steps, including launchingtargeted campaigns for Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), forming a volunteer-based Resource Mobilization Task Force, and hosting annual donor appreciation events.
The workshop concluded with a strong call for diversifying humanitarian activities beyond disaster response and blood donation, with proposals for initiatives such as tree plantation, poverty alleviation, and social welfare partnerships.
This marks the first time such an interactive and capacity-building workshop has been held in Gaibandha, underscoring BDRCS’s commitment to strengthening local-level financial sustainability and community-driven humanitarian action.