Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) | |
Native Name: | বাংলাদেশ রেড ক্রিসেন্ট সোসাইটি |
Headquarters: | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
Language: | Bengali, English |
Leader Title: | Chairman |
Leader Name: | PROF. DR. M. U. KABIR CHOWDHURY |
Leader Title2: | Vice-Chairman |
Leader Name2: | LUTFUR RAHMAN CHOWDHURY HELAL |
Formation: | 16 December 1971 |
The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS;) is a humanitarian organization and auxiliary to the Government of Bangladesh. The organization was established in 1973 as the Bangladesh Red Cross Society through the Presidents Order 26.[1] It changed its name to Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in 1988 while the country adopted Islam as the constitutional religion.[2] It has its headquarters in Dhaka and also has 68 Units. A Unit is constituted in each of the 64 districts and in the Metropolitan cities of Dhaka. Chittagong, Rajshahi & Khulna. The society has played an instrumental role in relief and rehabilitation during floods, cyclones and other natural disasters which are frequent in various parts of Bangladesh They are also one of the largest sources of blood donation throughout the country.
The President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is the Head of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society by designation. Under his supervision, a Managing Board runs the organization.
The Managing Board consists of 15 members. There is a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Treasurer and 12 general members on the board. As of June 2022, the current postholders are:[3]
Under the Managing Board, there are 2 Divisional Chiefs and 19 Directors responsible for each of the departments that run the organization. This senior management is presided over by a Secretary General and a Deputy Secretary General.[4] The current Secretary General of BDRCS is Kazi Shafiqul Azam and the current Deputy Secretary General is Md. Rafiqul Islam.[5]