Orphanage a residential institution for rearing up children whose parents are dead or financially

insolvent. In Bangladesh, most of the orphanages are supported by zakat money or any other
religious endowment. The lexicographical meaning of 'orphan' is a state of loneliness being
neglected and demonstrated lack of proper cares. Orphan is a boy or girl who lost his or her father in
childhood and as such was deprived of his affection. In Bengali, orphan has a synonym, Anath. It
means helpless one who does not have anybody to extend help, protection and support. In Islamic
culture, children who lost their mothers before attaining adulthood are termed as Azizyu. The period
of orphan life ends with the attainment of adulthood. In Islam, strict directives have been given to
take special care of the orphans. One of the most important social problems in the initial days of
Islam was the rearing up of orphans who were deprived of their fathers' affection.

Many orphanages were established in Bengal as safe shelters for rearing up the orphans both at
individual and collective initiative. These orphanages are being conventionally managed by either
the contribution of any individual or the fund raised collectively from zakat money. During the British
rule, the provision for granting endowment from the government exchequer was introduced to run
orphanages and shelter homes for the helpless, Anath Asram. In Bangladesh, at present, there exist
two types of orphanages like Lillah Boarding, an orphanage attached to a MADRASAH, and the
independent orphanages having provisions for meal, lodging and education for its inmates.