The socio-economic role of Islamic faith-based organizations in Bangladesh: A social work perspective
Md. Yasir Arafat Arman
Abstract
Islamic faith-based organizations (IFBOs) play a crucial role in poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, humanitarian support, and fostering communal harmony in Bangladesh. However, their socio-economic contribution and impact on development discourse remain underexplored in the existing academic literature. This study examines 15 IFBOs through thematic and content analysis, utilizing primary data sourced from official websites, social media verified pages and channels, and two case studies, one key informant interview, alongside secondary literature. The findings reveal that IFBOs are making significant contributions to community resilience and socio-economic development despite some challenges related to regulatory frameworks and funding constraints. The study addresses existing knowledge gaps with recommendations for integrating faith-based approaches into social work practice and unfolds the importance of further empirical research on IFBOs’ long-term impact in the country.
Keywords
Islamic faith-based organizations, social work, community development, sustainable development, Bangladesh
Author information & Contribution
Bangladesh Army International University of Science and Technology Cumilla – 3501, Bangladesh. Email: yasirarafat.edu@gmail.com.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable.
Data and Materials Availability
AI Declaration
The author declares the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in writing this paper. In particular, the author used ChatGPT in order to improvise the writing of the article to improve language and readability. The author takes full responsibility in ensuring proper review and editing of contents generated using AI.
Notes
Acknowledgement
I extend my deepest gratitude to the authority of Bangladesh Army International University of Science and Technology (BAIUST) for providing the necessary support to conduct this research. I am sincerely thankful to the As-Sunnah Foundation and its representatives for sharing valuable insights and facilitating access to data. Special appreciation goes to the interview participants, Md. Rasel and Jesmin Akhter, whose experiences enriched this study. I also acknowledge the reviewers for their constructive feedback, which has strengthened the manuscript. Finally, I am grateful to my colleagues, friends, and family members for their continuous encouragement and support.
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Cite this article:
Arman, M.Y.A. (2025). The socio-economic role of Islamic faith-based organizations in Bangladesh: A social work perspective. International Review of Social Sciences Research, 5(2), 1-30. https://doi.org/10.53378/irssr.353178
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