The socio-economic role of Islamic faith-based organizations in Bangladesh: A social work perspective

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.