Constitution

The Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman Foundation has been established to develop the nation by securing for the people of independent Bangladesh — won through the great Liberation War, and in the spirit of that war, regardless of religion, caste, colour, or political affiliation — their fundamental human rights: food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education, and employment; and, by fostering self-reliance, to advance human-resource and cultural development.

"Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman Foundation."

Registered office: House No. 514, Lane 9 East, Baridhara D.O.H.S., Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka 1206, Bangladesh. By decision of the Executive Council, the office may be relocated anywhere within Dhaka district. Any relocation must be reported to the registering authority.

Editorial note: The source constitution recorded a temporary office at 151/5 Manipuripara, Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215. The address above reflects the foundation's current operating address used across this website; the relocation should be reported to the registering authority as Article 2 requires. See all editorial notes.

Dhaka district. Activities may later be expanded nationwide with the approval of the registering authority.

The organization is a non-political, non-profit, humanitarian, social-welfare and developmental charitable institution. With the approval of the relevant authority, it will pursue the following:

• (a) Uphold the spirit, beliefs, and cultural values of the Liberation War.
• (b) Commit to building a harmonious, amicable, exploitation-free, prosperous Bangladesh.
• (c) Commit to raising public awareness of an illiteracy-free, life-oriented, profession-conscious, mother-tongue-based education system.
• (d) Help resolve problems in food production caused by environmental disasters and raise awareness for building food-security systems.
• (e) Create employment through the production and marketing of domestic textiles.
• (f) Commit to arranging housing for the homeless.
• (g) Commit to ensuring all forms of healthcare for all classes, prioritizing the extreme poor.
• (h) Create employment by developing new services, products, and businesses for all communities.
• (i) Encourage the poor to save and live thriftily for a better future.
• (j) Build public awareness of protecting native cultural heritage from foreign encroachment.
• (k) Achieve self-reliance for the country's people through a defined development model within a defined timeframe.
• (l) Progressively reduce dependence on foreign aid and maximize development of own resources.
• (m) Carry out socio-economic programs through sound policies.
• (n) Adopt practical programs for women's and men's development, including eliminating gender discrimination.
• (o) Improve the living standards of the poor through socio-economic development.
• (p) Strive to establish peace, morality, and social justice at all levels of society.
• (q) Arrange to implement the government's diverse development programs through the organization.

(With the approval of the relevant authority, the organization will implement the following aims, objectives, and programs.)

1. Education programs

• Provide all forms of welfare assistance to the needy, poor, neglected, and backward, regardless of religion, caste, or colour.
• Launch education and mass-education projects; provide vocational and professional skill training to individuals and institutions, on a basis of shared financial participation between the organization and trainees.
• Establish and operate formal schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical institutions alongside non-formal education.
• Run new schools with modern curricula for children and adolescents.
• Introduce scholarships and stipends for meritorious and destitute students.
• Prevent the rise of extremism by modernizing religious education.

2. Socio-economic development programs

• Enrich the country's IT sector — popularizing computer training and software development, introducing computer education in schools and colleges, and using computers in development communication.
• Undertake projects to accelerate socio-economic development, including physical-infrastructure development through food-for-work in backward agricultural areas.
• Arrange healthcare, training, alternative employment, and social rehabilitation for socially disadvantaged persons.
• Assist orphans, the parentless, the unemployed, the disabled, indigent freedom fighters, and persons with disabilities.
• Establish shelters for the elderly and maintain their healthcare, recreation, and social dignity.
• Raise awareness against dowry, child marriage, polygamy, divorce, and abuse, and provide overall support including legal aid.
• Provide networking and unconditional financial support for the timely marriage of marriageable daughters of poor families.
• Mobilize short-, medium-, and long-term resources to form development projects for target members.
• Undertake sustainable projects through local-resource development to progressively reduce foreign aid and achieve national self-reliance.

3. Health programs

• Take all possible measures to bring healthcare to the doorstep of indigent freedom fighters and the extreme poor.
• Provide all forms of support in health, nutrition, and family planning for neglected people.
• Arrange treatment for diabetes, high blood pressure, diarrhoea, cataracts, and other illnesses.
• Publish survey and research reports on kidney, heart, and cancer diseases.
• Raise awareness to prevent HIV/AIDS and cancer and undertake all related programs.
• Assist poor people who are congenitally physically disabled.
• Ensure tube-wells for safe water; identify arsenic-contaminated water and arrange pure-water supply.
• Establish clinics and charitable hospitals and provide free medicine and medical supplies to the poor.

4. Research programs

• Publish surveys, research, and reports on the country's language, culture, history, heritage, science, literature, and arts, and on current events.
• Publish surveys, research, and reports on education, health, gender development, the women's development training sector, and human rights.
• Conduct surveys and research on public-health protection, disease prevention, medicine introduction, natural-method treatment, and herbal-medicine development.

5. Legal-aid programs

• Provide legal aid to the neglected for their rightful entitlements.
• Provide all forms of legal aid to the destitute, neglected, and oppressed poor.
• Work toward the realization of human rights.
• Help establish peace, morality, social justice, and good governance at all levels.
• Provide treatment, legal aid, and rehabilitation to victims of acid violence.
• Raise awareness against trafficking of women and children and provide legal aid to victims.
• Provide legal aid to destitute women who have been unjustly divorced.

6. Agriculture, environmental conservation, afforestation, fisheries, cottage and small industry

• Encourage planting of endangered native medicinal trees (including social and family afforestation) and undertake national projects to prevent their extinction.
• Install biogas plants to maintain environmental balance and curb deforestation for fuel.
• Train and support the poor (widows and housewives) in cottage industry, handicrafts, vegetable gardening, poultry, livestock, and fish farming.
• Develop technology, training, and varied activities for agriculture and allied sectors.
• Bring the poor and unemployed youth under fish-farming projects with training and support.
• Undertake any project necessary for environmental conservation and development.

7. Women and children programs

• Undertake all projects for early childhood development — from prenatal care through safe delivery, postnatal care, child nutrition and health, disease prevention, and physical and mental development.
• Provide primary care for expectant mothers, raise awareness of good health, and run other maternal and child-health programs.
• Prevent child labour in hazardous work; organize such children and develop their self-reliance through education and skills training.

8. Miscellaneous programs

• Undertake any similar humanitarian project — present or future — consistent with the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance.
• Publish and disseminate newspapers, bulletins, magazines, newsreels, and video documentaries (per government rules) to share accurate information on the organization's and the country's development.

(a) Founder member   (b) General member   (c) Associate member   (d) Donor member   (e) Life member   (f) Honorary member.

• (a) Founder member: All who sign the "B-form" at the organization's establishment.
• (b) General member: Eligibility per Article 8.
• (c) Associate member: An enthusiastic Bangladeshi social worker aged 18+, regardless of religion/caste/colour, inspired by the organization's ideals, may apply on the organization's form (with one general member's recommendation) and be admitted on approval. Pays a one-time admission fee of Tk. 500 and an annual subscription of Tk. 200.
• (d) Donor member: Selected on the nomination of founder and general members; must donate a minimum of Tk. 1,00,000 (one lakh).
• (e) Life member: Selected on the nomination of founder and general members; must donate a minimum of Tk. 50,000 (fifty thousand). [Source places this figure under the donor-member heading; in context it applies to the life member — see editorial notes.]

• (a) Any Bangladeshi aged 18+, regardless of religion/caste/colour, and an enthusiastic social worker may become a general member.
• (b) Apply on the prescribed form with a Tk. 500 admission fee, submitted to the President/General Secretary.
• (c) Must adhere to the organization's ideals and objectives.
• (d) Must pay an annual subscription of Tk. 200.
• (e) The General Secretary presents applications to the Executive Council for approval and records approved members in the register.
• (f) Applications are approved or rejected per the Executive Council's resolution.

All general members who pay their annual subscription retain voting rights and the right to contest elections. Other members may advise on the organization's development or serve on the election commission.

Membership is cancelled if a member: 1. voluntarily resigns; 2. loses mental balance; 3. is absent from three consecutive meetings or becomes inactive; 4. acts against the organization's interest, behaves contrary to it, or misappropriates funds; 5. fails to pay the annual subscription; 6. dies, becomes mentally deranged or insolvent, or is convicted by a court; 7. takes up employment within the organization.

A member who loses membership and apologizes for their fault must reapply afresh; Article 8 governs restoration.

Three bodies manage the organization:

• 1. General Council — all general members; no upper limit on membership.
• 2. Executive Council — a 7-member body nominated or elected by the General Council for a two-year term: President — 1; Vice-President — 1; General Secretary — 1; Treasurer — 1; Executive Members — 3; Total — 7.
• 3. Advisory Council — the Executive Council may form an Advisory Council of at least 5 members. Persons aged 25+ who aid the organization with advice, funds, and resources are nominated as honored members by the Executive Council. Term: two years; the Executive Council may dissolve advisory roles at the end of a program period.

1. Approve necessary expenses. 2. Form sub-committees for special tasks. 3. Fix meeting day, date, time, venue, and agenda. 4. Arrange all accounts, expense vouchers, books, and cash books. 5. Control administrative, financial, and managerial responsibilities. 6. Determine management, project undertaking, implementation, and staff duties. 7. Reserve the power to cancel membership under Article 10.

(a) President — Presides over all meetings; may cast a casting vote by special power; represents the organization (or delegates representation); approves all expense vouchers; requests the General Secretary to convene meetings and may convene them personally in urgent need; serves as honorary Executive Director by Council decision; signs correspondence and contracts; signs appointment, promotion, and release letters of all officers and staff.

(b) Vice-President — Assists the President in all matters; in the President's absence, the senior-most performs the President's duties.

(c) General Secretary — Convenes meetings in consultation with the President; with the Treasurer, prepares monthly and annual accounts and audit reports and presents them to the Executive, Advisory, and General meetings; records, secures, and implements the minutes of all meetings upon approval.

(d) Treasurer — Handles all financial matters; maintains records of expenses, bill vouchers, and subscriptions; prepares monthly and annual accounts and audit reports.

(e) Executive Members — Attend Executive Council meetings, give opinions in decision-making, and perform assigned duties.

With the registering authority's approval, branch offices may open outside Dhaka district.

• (a) Formation and structure: A 5-member branch council (President, General Secretary, Treasurer, and 2 members) is formed from local members, approved and controlled by the Central Council, and elected and run by the branch general council.
• (b) Duties and privileges: Branches implement tasks adopted by the general and central councils, remain accountable to both, may not undertake additional tasks without central approval, and enjoy facilities granted by the Central Council.
• (c) Suspension: The Central Council may suspend a branch's activities at any time and bears all related liability; it must notify the registering authority in writing within 30 days, stating the reason.
• (d) Central control: Branches must complete assigned activities within the budget allocated by the Central Council.
• (e) A branch's President, General Secretary, and Treasurer are ex-officio members of the central general council.

• (a) The Executive Council is nominated or elected by proposal-and-seconding in the General Council or by secret ballot, and submitted for the registering authority's approval within one month.
• (b) Its term is two years from the date of election.

A 3-member election commission — comprising persons who will not contest or are non-members — is formed by the General Council's decision to conduct the election.

One person, one vote per post; no proxy voting. The commission announces the election schedule 30 days in advance, and its decisions on election matters are final.

• (a) General meeting — Held annually; 15 days' notice; quorum is two-thirds of total members.
• (b) Executive meeting — At least 4 per year; 7 days' notice with date, time, venue, agenda; quorum two-thirds.
• (c) Emergency meeting — General: 3 days' notice, quorum two-thirds. Executive: 24 hours' notice, quorum two-thirds.
• (d) Special general meeting — 7 days' notice; only the special agenda may be discussed; quorum two-thirds.
• (e) Requisition meeting — At least two-thirds of members may submit a signed request stating the agenda. If the President/General Secretary does not convene it within 21 days, the requisitioning members may convene it within the next month on 15 days' notice, held at the organization's office; quorum two-thirds.
• (f) Adjourned meeting — A general meeting may start up to 30 minutes late, else it is postponed. If postponed for lack of quorum, the next meeting's notice is given within 30 days; if quorum still fails, the meeting proceeds with those present and their decisions are final. An Executive Council meeting postponed twice for lack of quorum may decide on the third occasion with those present.

Editorial note: The source splits these rules across two headings both numbered "Article 19"; they are consolidated here.

A vacant Executive Council post must be filled by decision of two-thirds of the General Council and submitted to the registering authority for approval.

If, after the Executive Council's term expires, an election cannot be held or a commission cannot be formed, or in any organizational complication, an emergency general meeting may — by two-thirds decision of the General Council — form a 3-member ad-hoc committee (one convener, two members). It performs all duties like the Executive Council and hands over to the newly elected Council after completing elections within 90 days.

• (a) All powers of the organization vest in the General Council, which may take any lawful decision in the organization's interest.
• (b) Appointed or nominated staff may attend Executive or other meetings as observers, without voting rights.
• (c) The annual general meeting is held within 18 months of registration.
• (d) General-meeting business: 1. verify attendance by signature; 2. read and approve the last meeting's minutes; 3. present all reports and decide through discussion; 4. amend by-laws (if any); 5. adjournment motions/miscellaneous; 6. if the President and Vice-President are absent or unable, a member present may be assigned to preside by proposal and seconding.

• (a) The fund may be built from admission fees, monthly subscriptions, and donations.
• (b) Donations and loans may be accepted from individuals, domestic and foreign organizations, welfare institutions or foundations, and the government.
• (c) Year-end funds may not be distributed among members; they may be spent only on welfare work toward the organization's ideals and objectives.

• (a) A savings/current account in the organization's name must be opened at any local Bangladeshi scheduled bank; multiple project-area accounts may be opened by Executive Council decision.
• (b) The account is operated by the joint signatures of the President, General Secretary, and Treasurer; withdrawals require any two of the three signatures.
• (c) Collected money may never be held in hand — cash must be deposited promptly; up to Tk. 5,000 may be kept with the General Secretary for emergencies, with spending approved by the Executive Council.
• (d) For daily expenses, the President may withdraw funds against proper vouchers/proposals, jointly signed by the General Secretary/Treasurer.
• (e) Spent amounts require Executive Council approval; all expenses and the budget are approved at the annual general meeting.

All accounts must be audited annually by a government-approved audit firm, with the report sent to the registering authority.

Any amendment requires approval of two-thirds of total members on the amended clause, then submission to the registering authority for final approval. The amendment is effective only once the registering authority approves it.

Any fundraising project/program/event may be conducted subject to the registering authority's permission, with full income-expenditure accounts submitted afterward.

Officers and staff are appointed subject to Executive Council approval, which sets salary, allowances, service conditions, and dismissal terms. The registering authority must be informed before appointments, and no security deposit, bank draft, or pay-order may be taken from appointees.

In receiving foreign aid/donations, the organization follows the provisions of the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act, 2016, and maintains a designated account at a government scheduled bank. (Source wording: "2016 (amended) Foreign Donation Ordinance" — see editorial notes.)

Notwithstanding anything in this constitution, all activities are governed by the prevailing law under Ordinance No. 46 of 1961 (the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961). Other activities take effect subject to the relevant ministry/department/authority's approval.

If three-fifths of total members wish to dissolve the organization for a specific reason, the registering authority — after due application — takes the necessary measures. Any liabilities at dissolution are the personal responsibility of the Executive Council members.