Inspiring Others to Do Good Deeds
Book Publication
Under the auspices of the Arpon-Dorpon Memorial Foundation, the founder member and author Rashedul Islam publishes various types of educational and motivational writings on relevant topics in social media and online-offline magazines to inspire people to do good deeds. Additionally, he arranges to publish 1-2 of his self-written books on behalf of Arpon-Dorpon at the Ekushey Book Fair organized annually by Bangla Academy. The books written on behalf of Arpon-Dorpon are generally aimed at inspiring readers to do good deeds and for the healthy mental development of students. The income from these books is used to fund the activities undertaken by the foundation.
Practice of Integrity
While Bangladesh has made economic progress, the moral values of its people have largely eroded. Corruption and criminal tendencies among people have increased significantly and continue to grow. Despite changes in power, social crimes like bribery in official work, food adulteration, hoarding, black marketing, human trafficking, money laundering abroad, drug addiction, and fraud have become commonplace. Additionally, billions of takas worth of property is destroyed annually due to arson, poisoning, or other causes stemming from revenge. Upon closer examination, it becomes evident that almost all types of social and economic crimes mentioned above are rooted in three fundamental causes:
- Selfishness and self-centeredness of the educated class: In recent times, selfishness and self-centeredness among the educated class in our country have increased significantly. While desiring self-improvement is not wrong, many among us do not hesitate to harm others in pursuit of their own advancement. This self-centred thinking has led to an increase in criminal tendencies in society.
- Lack of trust in one another: The level of distrust among people today has grown. Currently, we do not trust anyone. However, the reality is that this lack of trust acts as a major obstacle to the development of a healthy society.
- People’s tendency for revenge: Recently, the tendency for revenge among people in society has increased significantly. Occupying others’ property, setting fire to it if occupation is not possible, poisoning fish, poultry, and cattle, destroying crops, filing false lawsuits – these have now become very common occurrences.
At the root of these three fundamental causes lies the unrestrained practice of lying, lack of patriotism, and disregard for religion and moral ethics in society. The ongoing social problems have taken a form similar to blood cancer. Therefore, to solve these ongoing social issues, a change in the mindset of the entire society is necessary – which is not possible in the short term. In this context, we need to practice integrity with our children from childhood.
To that end, the Arpon-Dorpon Memorial Foundation has been implementing an “Integrity Practice Competition” program on a limited scale at the primary education level, while also proposing the implementation of an integrity practice program in primary education at the government level.
Under the “Integrity Practice” program, Arpon-Dorpon Memorial Foundation organized a seminar titled “Building a Lie-Free Society in Bangladesh in a Well-Planned Way” at Dhaka University in 2022. Following this seminar, a workshop titled “Developing an Implementation Strategy for Building a Lie-Free Society” was organized at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Complex (KIB) in the same year. Based on the workshop recommendations, a “Truth Practice Competition” was implemented on a pilot basis in 5 kindergarten schools in 2 upazilas of Meherpur district in 2022. A total of 115 students from 3rd to 5th grade participated in this competition. As part of the competition, students refrained from lying for 30 days and participated in various good deeds.
The foundation believes that organizing such competitions at all levels of primary education will not only bring about a revolutionary qualitative change in education but also help develop students as benevolent citizens towards each other. With this belief, Arpon-Dorpon Memorial Foundation is working towards the implementation of a concept paper on practicing integrity in primary education in the country by the government.
Arpon-Dorpon Memorial Foundation, with the support of Bulbul Education Foundation, has organized a 40-day Self-Practicing Good Conduct Competition among 36 students of Aminur Rahman College in Mohammadpur Upazila of Magura. The award distribution ceremony for the winners of the competition inspired other 40 students to take part in the same competition for the next 40 days. A new Self-Practicing Good-Conduct Competition is going to be held in Tarabo Girls High School, Ashuganj, B Baria where all students of this school will take part in the said competition in April 2025. In addition, initiatives have been taken to draw the attention of respected Imams and Alims to consider certain fundamental neglected aspects of religion (which are helpful in changing people’s mind-set) through the publication of two books titled ‘Darwin Theory and Model Mosque and Fundamental Aspects of Islam’ and ‘Hajj in Changing Mind-set.
