Ramadan meals for the needy

Some 1,000 Woodlands residents received a hot meal of briyani and porridge yesterday evening as part of an initiative to provide food for elderly and low-income residents for the five Mondays during Ramadan. The food was distributed at a block of rental flats by grassroots volunteers and Sembawang GRC MP Amrin Amin, who is also Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs. The food was ordered from a mosque and provided by the Woodlands Grassroots Organisations. Several activities were held at the weekend as part of Ramadan. Among them was a mass iftar - or break-fast event - on Sunday. It was held by the Singapore Bangladeshi Society (SBS) at Assyakirin Mosque, which is close to several dormitories in Jurong housing Bangladeshi workers. Around 3,000 worshippers attended, as well as Bangladesh High Commissioner to Singapore Mahbub Uz Zaman and Mr Amrin, who was the guest of honour. Workers living in the dormitories, along with members of the SBS, volunteered to prepare the meal. Also on Sunday, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore officers met members of the SBS together with 30 Bangladeshi prayer leaders who also conduct religious classes at four dormitories in Mandai, Woodlands, Toh Guan and Tuas, to better understand the socio-religious needs of the workers.