Islamic Microfinance and Rehabilitation Model for the Slum and Floating Population by Waqf Funds, the Case of Bangladesh: A Proposal for Muslim Countries

This paper designs a conceptual model of Islamic microfinance and rehabilitation by using the waqf funds for the slum and floating population. It analyzes both the primary and the secondary data on the current status of Islamic microfinance coverage (in thirteen countries), waqf estates (in seven countries), and the slum and floating population in thirty five Muslim countries of the world. The primary data was accumulated on 150 microfinance borrowers and 100 non-borrowers of Bangladesh. This paper presents a multifunctional structure of an autonomous waqf management institution to execute the model of this paper. This institution will be formed by the joint venture of the government, the national, as well as international Islamic agencies. Furthermore, this model will be implemented through five stages, the revival and registration of the waqf estate, accumulation of funds, initiating the Islamic microfinance and rehabilitation for the slum population, and finally, forward linkage that may help the slum people to contribute to the society.