Once areas like Dhanmondi, Gulshan and Banani are known as the aristocrat areas in the capital. However, this common conception of people has been changed in last twenty to twenty five years. Now, people think Bashundhara as the aristocrat residential area. There’s no such modern and well-planned residential area in Dhaka. Day by day, Bashundhara has been becoming more attractive residence to the artisan-citizens of the capital. Such a residential area with clean environment, wide and beautiful streets, and splash of greenery can be compared to eye-catching, secured small towns located beside the big cities in the countries of developed world.
What’s not in the Bashundhara Residential Area? Some best private universities of the country are located in Bashundhara, in addition to schools, hospitals, shopping malls, gymnasiums, playgrounds, which made it incomparable! Here’s located some mosques of marvelous architectural structures, along with madrasas and orphanages. Bashundhara Eye Hospital is a high quality eye hospital, in addition to ‘Bashundhara Diabetic Hospital’ for the treatment of diabetes patients, both of which are in this area. All The facilities that are needed for a modern residential area are available here. As the security system is very well, even a girl can walk fearlessly at middle of the night. The buildings cropped up in this area displays unique and spectacular architectures.
Each and every member of the family of Bashundhara Group owner is very much sports enthusiast. This business group is the director of ‘Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra’ and ‘Sheikh Jamal Football Club.’ Bashundhara Kings, the football team owned by the group, has already grabbed the attention of sports lovers of the country. The media house run by this group is known as the largest media house of the country. Three national dailies ‘The Kaler Kantho,’ ‘The Bangladesh Pratidin’ and ‘The Daily Sun’ (English), an online news portal ‘banglanews24.com,’ a radio station ‘Radio Capital’ and two television channels ‘News 24’ and ‘T-Sports— all are run from this media house. Especially, T-Sports are the most popular sports channel in the country now. And, ‘The Bangladesh Pratidin’ is the most popular among the dailies in the country.
‘For the country, For the People’ is the slogan of Bashundhara Group. As the largest business conglomerate of the country, they have been registering huge contribution to the GDP and playing an excellent role in taking the country forward. The welfare of the country is the welfare of the people, and if people go to strong position, then the country also secure a strong position. Hence, two organization of Bashundhara Group has been involved in humanitarian activities hugely: Bashndhara Foundation and Bashundhara Shuvosangho.
'Bashundhara Foundation' has been providing interest-free and service charge-free micro-credit for twenty years to make poor women self-reliant. About 40 thousand women in Bancharampur area have become independent through this loan. Taka amounted to crores are being given as loans in this sector. This activity will continue. At some point, this microcredit scheme will advance to make the poor women of the country self-reliant.
'Basundhara Shuvosangho' is now the largest social activities organization in Bangladesh. The organization is moving forward with the slogan ‘Beside everyone in their good works’. 'Basundhara Shuvosangho Training Center' has been opened in the remote areas of various districts to empower poor women. The women who are being trained through this center are given a sewing machine each upon completion of their training. By using these sewing machines, they can bring prosperity to their families, which is the purpose of this donation. The program is expanding day by day. Also, the work of establishing 'Bashundhara Shuvosangho School' is going on in the remote areas where there are no schools. One school is being built every month. The work of constructing schools, training centers and libraries in their own buildings on their own land in 64 districts of the country is progressing.
Apart from this, help is being given to poor people in various ways from this organization. Handicapped people are being bought wheelchairs, shops are being given away, and vans are being bought and given to someone, in addition to giving poultry, cows and goats. Many people who do not have a place to sleep are provided with shelter where they can live in. In other words, 'Basundhara Shuvosangho' is continuing its endeavor to stand by the poor and helpless people.
Bashundhara Group is also taking the responsibility of treating sick people. The group is taking responsibility for hundreds of women, men and children who cannot get treatment due to lack of money. Crorres of money are being spent on these patients. And there are scholarships. Talented students who are unable to continue their studies due to lack of money are given monthly scholarships. Such scholarships have been given to about 3000 such students all over the country. This scholarship is from Tk 1,000 to Tk 10,000 and the recievers of such money are students of schools, colleges and universities. Some are studying medicals and some are engineering. Starting from admission, all their expenses are borne by 'Bashundhara Shuvosangho'. The organization is also taking responsibility for the maintenance of poor and helpless men and women. Monthly financial assistance is being given to such people. Libraries are being built in the district to develop the reading habits of the children. That is, the organization is doing everything possible that contribute to the welfare of people.
Bashundhara group has recently started an extraordinary campaign in their residential area. 'Bashundhara Sports Complex' is being built with a huge area. Very modern football and cricket stadiums are being built. Indoor games are also available. Everyone will see this activity if they go to N block of Bashundhara Residential Area. Anyone who goes there will be amazed. To stand in front of this stadium is just like standing in front of a wonderful dream. The reality of the dream will impress anyone.
Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, the honorable chairman of Bashundhara Group, has started his endeavor with a dream 35 years from now and that dream has been hugely expanded today. Many people dream of doing many things, but not all of them can realize it. Mr Ahmed Akbar Sobhan dreamt of making something great. He not only made his dreams realized, but also reached a wonderful destination apart from just realizing dreams. At present, he’s going to realize another dream: a school building is being built beside the sport complex located in N block of Bashundara Residential Area. Each floor of the school will have space of 40,000 Sq. Ft. It will be a Bengali Medium School of international standard, but will also have English version. Not only the school will stand beside the renowned schools of Bangladesh according to its quality, but also stand out from other schools in near future. The construction work of school building is about to be completed and I was amazed after visiting the rooms.
Each classroom has twelve hundred square feet. The layout of the rooms and facilities for the students are excellent. A field is with the school and another stadium is next to it. The library with a space of 5000 sq. ft. will be built inside the school building. All in all, the school will become a dream school for the students. Its journey is being started as a school, but it will also become a college. This school will open the door of a dream world for talented students.
Whatever Bashundhara Group does is of international standards. This school will show the same qualities as Bashundhara never compromises on quality. This school will be the best school in Bangladesh with outstanding beauty and strong management.
Writer: Imdadul Haq Milan, Editor-in-Chief of Kaler Kantho and director of East West Media Group Ltd (EWMGL).
