A Vision for National Well-being

In the realm of integrated health care, education, and social welfare in Bangladesh, few names shine as brightly as Dr. Hakim Mohammad Yusuf Harun Bhuiyan. As a visionary Unani physician, philanthropist, and institution builder, he founded Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh, a unique non-profit entity that has deeply impacted the nation’s progress in public health, ethical education, and community welfare. This article explores his philosophy, the evolution of Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh, and its ongoing contributions in the national and global context.

Introduction: A Leader Rooted in Tradition and Service

Dr. Hakim Mohammad Yusuf Harun Bhuiyan was not only a skilled physician trained in the Unani system of medicine, but also a committed nation-builder. He believed in a holistic approach to national development—where health, education, spirituality, and ethics are interwoven.

With deep roots in Eastern medicine and a visionary understanding of modern healthcare systems, he established Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Bangladesh in the early 1980s, transforming it from a herbal medicine company into a national philanthropic institution. The proceeds from the laboratories were channeled through the Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh, ensuring sustainable social investment.

Genesis of Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh

Inspired by the original ideals of Hamdard in India—established by Hakim Abdul Majeed in 1906—Dr. Bhuiyan localized the vision to fit the needs of post-independence Bangladesh.

Founded as a Waqf (charitable endowment) organization, Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh dedicates 100% of its profits to public welfare. It is unique in that its operational model fuses Islamic charitable principles (waqf) with modern systems of accountability and management.

Areas of Contribution

3.1 Healthcare for the Marginalized

• Hamdard Unani and Ayurvedic hospitals serve thousands of patients annually across Bangladesh, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
• Mobile Medical Units and free health camps bring essential services to remote populations.
• These initiatives support the national goal of achieving universal healthcare access and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

3.2 Ethical and Scientific Education

• Education is a core focus of the Foundation’s mission. Dr. Bhuiyan believed that ethical development and scientific literacy must go hand in hand.

Key institutions established:

• Hamdard University Bangladesh (HUB): A world-class university providing degrees in medicine, engineering, Islamic studies, pharmacy, and humanities.

• Hamdard Public College and Schools: Offering value-based secondary education with a focus on discipline and moral development.

• Research and Training Centers: Facilitating research in Unani medicine, plant sciences, and integrative health solutions.

3.3 Community Development and Relief

• During natural disasters like floods and cyclones, Hamdard Foundation has been at the forefront of relief and rehabilitation efforts.

• Programs such as seasonal blanket distribution, Ramadan food packages, and scholarships for underprivileged students show its commitment to holistic community upliftment.

• Special attention is given to women’s health and child nutrition, especially in marginalized communities.

Philosophical and Ethical Grounding

Dr. Bhuiyan’s philosophy of “Knowledge, Health, and Service” guides every initiative of the foundation. The organization adheres to the highest ethical standards—transparency, compassion, and sustainability being central pillars.

He envisioned a future where:

• Traditional medicine coexists with modern research;
• Charity is structured through corporate-level efficiency;
• Public service is not a duty, but a sacred trust.
• National and International Recognition
• Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh has earned accolades from various national and international bodies for its innovative approach to philanthropy and development.
• It collaborates with international research centers in India, Pakistan, Germany, and Turkey on Unani pharmacology and herbal research.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized some of its healthcare initiatives as models for alternative medicine integration in developing countries.

Legacy of Dr. Yusuf Harun Bhuiyan

Dr. Bhuiyan passed away leaving behind not just institutions, but a living movement of integrated development. His life work continues to inspire professionals in the fields of healthcare, education, and ethical leadership.

Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh remains an embodiment of his vision—ever-growing, ever-serving, and ever-rooted in values.

Conclusion

Dr. Hakim Mohammad Yusuf Harun Bhuiyan stands as a testament to how one man’s vision can create ripples across a nation’s social fabric. Through Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh, he laid a sustainable path toward health equity, educational excellence, and community empowerment. His work reminds us that when ethics guide enterprise, and compassion drives innovation, progress becomes truly inclusive and enduring.

Quote for Reflection

“Service to humanity is the highest form of worship. Health and knowledge, when freely shared, become the pillars of a just society.” — Dr. Hakim Mohammad Yusuf Harun Bhuiyan.

Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh, established in 1989 by Dr. Hakim Md. Yousuf Harun Bhuiyan, serves as the philanthropic arm of Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Bangladesh. Operating as a charitable waqf (endowment), the foundation reinvests all profits from its parent organization into initiatives that promote health, education, and social welfare across the country.

Core Roles and Contributions

Promotion of Traditional Medicine

The foundation is deeply committed to preserving and advancing the Eastern System of Medicine, particularly Unani and Ayurvedic practices. It achieves this by producing affordable herbal medicines, conducting research, and offering free medical consultations and treatments through its network of clinics and mobile dispensaries. Notably, free medical services are provided every Friday at its health centers .

Educational Advancement

Education is a cornerstone of the foundation’s mission. It has established several institutions, including Hamdard University Bangladesh and Hamdard Public College, to provide value-based education. These institutions aim to foster intellectual, spiritual, and moral development, preparing students to contribute meaningfully to society .

Humanitarian and Social Services

Beyond healthcare and education, the foundation actively participates in humanitarian efforts. It provides financial assistance to those in need, supports job creation, and responds to natural disasters. For instance, it has extended financial support to oppressed communities, such as the people of Palestine, reaffirming its commitment to global humanitarian causes.

Cultural and Scientific Promotion

The foundation also engages in promoting morality, science, and culture. It organizes seminars, publishes health literature, and conducts research to raise health awareness and contribute to the scientific community.

In essence, Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh plays a multifaceted role in enhancing the well-being of humanity through its unwavering commitment to health, education, and social service.

Medical Colleges & Hospitals

• Hamdard Unani Medical College & Hospital, Bogra
• Hakim Said Eastern Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka
• Rawshan Jahan Eastern Medical College & Hospital, Laxmipur

Educational Institutions

• Hamdard Public College, Dhaka
• Hamdard University Bangladesh, Munshiganj

1. Business Administration
2. Arts and Social Sciences
3. Science, Engineering, and Technology
4. Unani and Ayurvedic Medicine
5. Health Sciences
6. Cultural and Research Initiatives
7. Hamdard Museum
8. Healthcare Contributions

Free Medical Services:

Promotion of Traditional Medicine:

Educational Initiatives

Hamdard University Bangladesh:

Hamdard Public College:

Medical Colleges:

Humanitarian and Social Services

Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid:

Job Creation and Financial Assistance:

Cultural and Scientific Promotion

Hamdard Museum:

Research and Publications:

Below is an overview of their key initiatives:

• National Humanitarian Efforts
• Free Medical Services
• Disaster Relief
• Educational Support
• Commemorative Health Camps
• International Humanitarian Efforts
• Support for Palestine
• Global Relief Initiatives

Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh already plays a vital role in healthcare, education, and humanitarian work. To further contribute to the prosperity of Bangladesh, it can expand into the following impactful roles:

Rural Economic Empowerment

Microfinance & Small Business Support: Launch micro-loan and training programs to empower rural entrepreneurs, especially women.

Rural Health Hubs: Expand mobile and community clinics to improve maternal and child health in remote areas.

Youth Skill Development

Technical & Vocational Institutes: Establish centers for IT, agriculture, and sustainable technology skills.

• Startup Incubation: Partner with universities to support youth-led innovations through funding, mentorship, and exposure.
• Climate and Environmental Initiatives
• Green Herbal Farming: Promote eco-friendly cultivation of medicinal plants using organic methods.
• Reforestation & Clean Water Projects: Engage in tree planting, water purification, and sanitation drives in vulnerable areas.
• Public Health Research & Innovation
• Integrative Medicine Research Institute: Invest in research that combines Unani with modern healthcare practices.
• Disease Prevention Campaigns: Lead awareness drives on non-communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, and hygiene.

Digital Education & Health

• Telemedicine Platform: Create a digital health service for consultations in underserved regions.
• E-learning for Marginalized Communities: Offer free online courses in basic literacy, health, and skills training.

Crisis Preparedness & Response

• Disaster Readiness Centers: Train volunteers and build local resilience against floods, cyclones, and pandemics.
• Rapid Relief Task Force: Develop a structured, rapid-response unit for both national and international emergencies.

By broadening its vision in these areas, Hamdard Foundation can become a model of integrated national development, helping Bangladesh move closer to its goals of equity, health, education, and sustainable growth. Would you like a strategic plan or proposal around this?

Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh plays a vital role in improving the lives of rural people through a wide range of healthcare, education, and humanitarian initiatives. Its rural outreach focuses on equity, accessibility, and empowerment, especially for communities with limited access to modern services.

1. Rural Healthcare Services

Mobile Medical Units (MMUs)

Hamdard operates mobile health clinics that travel to remote villages.

Services include:

• General medical checkups
• Free medicine distribution
• Maternal and child health care
• Health awareness programs
• Hamdard Free Medical Camps
• Organized regularly in rural areas.
• Provide Unani and Ayurvedic treatment alongside health screenings.
• Offer diagnostic services at little or no cost.
• Community Health Awareness
• Programs on hygiene, nutrition, and traditional medicine practices.
• Empower rural families to practice preventive healthcare.

2. Education for Rural Children

Hamdard Laboratory Schools in Rural Areas

Set up in various rural districts.

Offer low-cost or free education from primary to secondary level.

Emphasize:

• Moral education
• Science and technology
• Clean environment and school meals
• Scholarships & Stipends
• Muktijoddha quota, orphan quota, and merit-based rural scholarships.
• Encourages poor but meritorious rural students to pursue higher education, including at Hamdard University Bangladesh.

3. Rural Employment and Economic Empowerment

Employment of Local Youth

Recruits and trains rural youth as:

• Medical assistants
• Field workers
• Health educators
• Herbal collectors for the Unani industry
• Herbal Farming & Raw Material Collection
• Supports medicinal plant cultivation by rural farmers.
• Buys herbs from rural communities for Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) production units, providing steady income.

4. Humanitarian and Social Welfare Programs

• Winter Relief in Villages
• Distributes blankets, warm clothes, and food during winter in northern and poverty-prone districts.
• Iftar and Eid Programs
• Distributes food, cash, and gifts to poor families during Ramadan and Eid.
• Disaster Relief in Rural Bangladesh
•  

Flood- and cyclone-affected rural communities receive:

• Emergency shelter
• Medical aid
• Food and water
• Long-term rehabilitation support

5. Future Rural Development Goals

• Establish community health centers in more remote areas.
• Expand telemedicine and digital health to connect villages with city doctors.
• Build model rural schools with blended (modern + traditional) curricula.
• Support women-led rural entrepreneurship in herbal processing.

Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh has actively supported the Palestinian people through humanitarian aid, medical assistance, employment opportunities, and fundraising collaborations, particularly during times of crisis. Below is a detailed overview of how the Foundation has extended its solidarity:

1. Financial and Humanitarian Aid

• Donation to the Palestinian Embassy (2025)
• In May 2025, Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Bangladesh, under the Hamdard Foundation, donated financial aid to support the Palestinian people in Gaza.
• The donation was officially handed over to Ambassador Yousef S.Y. Ramadan of Palestine in Dhaka by Md. Yousuf Harun Bhuiyan, Managing Director and Chief Mutawalli of Hamdard.
• The aim was to help meet basic humanitarian needs such as food, medical care, and shelter for war-affected civilians.

2. Employment for Palestinian Graduates

• Hiring of Palestinian Doctors
• Hamdard Bangladesh offered employment to seven Palestinian doctors who had graduated from Bangladeshi universities.
• These doctors, previously stranded or without jobs due to the conflict, were given meaningful employment opportunities within Hamdard’s medical system.
• This initiative supports livelihood stability and enhances Bangladesh-Palestine solidarity through professional integration.

3. Collaboration with Local NGOs

• Partnership with MASTUL Foundation
• Hamdard collaborated with the MASTUL Foundation, a Bangladeshi humanitarian NGO, to support Palestinians taking refuge in Egypt.

Through this partnership:

• Food and medical support was delivered.
• Funds were pooled to extend help beyond Bangladesh’s borders.
• This action reflects transnational humanitarianism rooted in Islamic and humanitarian values.

4. Advocacy and Public Awareness

Solidarity Campaigns

Hamdard Foundation has engaged in public events and campaigns promoting peace, justice, and awareness about the Palestinian humanitarian crisis.

Messages of solidarity from the Bangladeshi people are frequently shared through events, publications, and press statements.

5. Values Behind the Support

Hamdard Foundation’s support for Palestine is grounded in:

• Islamic ethics of justice and compassion
• Commitment to international humanitarian principles
• A belief that health, dignity, and education are universal rights regardless of geography

Conclusion

Through donations, employment, partnerships, and advocacy, Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh has proven to be a staunch ally of the Palestinian people. Its efforts reflect a broader mission of global humanitarian outreach, making it one of the few national organizations in Bangladesh to take direct, impactful action for Palestine.

Hamdard Foundation Bangladesh plays a significant role in supporting and respecting various religious programs as part of its commitment to humanitarian values, interfaith harmony, and inclusive development. Although founded on Islamic principles, Hamdard Foundation operates with a universal vision, serving people from all religious backgrounds across Bangladesh.

1. Support Across All Faiths

Hamdard Foundation provides equal access to its services, regardless of religion. This includes:

• Healthcare services (free medical camps, Unani treatment)
• Education (schools and universities)
• Social welfare (relief programs, scholarships)

People of all religions—Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists—benefit from these services without any form of discrimination.

2. Participation in Religious Festivals and Programs

Hamdard actively supports and often participates in the major religious festivals of Bangladesh’s diverse communities.

Examples:

Religious Group                       Festival/Program                      Hamdard’s Contribution

Hindu                                        Durga Puja Distribution of food, warm clothes, free medicine near puja mandaps

Buddhist                                   Buddha Purnima                      Support to temples, health services

Christian                                   Christmas Distribution of gifts and food packs to Christian communities

Muslim                                     Ramadan, Eid, Milad-un-Nabi Iftar distribution, Zakat-based charity, free health checkups

3. Promoting Moral & Interfaith Education

• In Hamdard’s educational institutions:
• Students from all religions study together.
• Moral education curriculum teaches:
• Respect for religious diversity
• Compassion and tolerance
• Peaceful coexistence

These values are embedded in the school’s ethos and encouraged through discussions, events, and cultural programs.

4. Interfaith Solidarity and Community Engagement

Hamdard Foundation:

• Works with religious leaders and local communities during relief distribution and public health campaigns.
• Hosts or sponsors events that encourage religious unity and community well-being.
• Sends messages of peace and solidarity during religious or communal tensions.

5. Religious Neutrality in Employment

Hamdard employs staff from all religious backgrounds in its hospitals, laboratories, universities, and outreach programs.

• It fosters a religiously inclusive and respectful workplace culture.

6. Future Vision for Interfaith Engagement

• Hamdard Foundation aims to:
• Expand its interfaith education programs in rural schools.
• Support multi-faith health and wellness initiatives.
• Launch joint programs with religious NGOs and faith-based charities to deepen communal harmony.