Bashundhara Shuvosangho members on Friday distributed relief items among 50 families affected by river erosion in Char Rajibpur upazila, Kurigram.
The organisation’s unit in Rajibpur Government College handed over packets of relief items among 25 families each from Paikantari and Ballabh Para villages of the upazila. Each of the packets contained rice, lentil, edible oil, cooking salt, biscuits and some chocolates for kids.
The team sailed on a boat across the “merciless river” to reach the shores near the two affected areas early in the morning. Upon arrival, they were met with jubilation by the affected people – many of whom ran into the river to welcome their much-awaited well wishers.
The selected beneficiaries were notified earlier of incoming relief goods.
Upon receiving the relief items, Saiful Islam from Ballabh Para village reflected on his predicament. Three of his houses were swallowed by the river, but nobody had come to his aid. People went with relief items to the district’s Soug Char area two-three times during the recent crisis, but none reached Ballabh Para village, Saiful noted with disappointment.
However, when all hopes seemed to fade Bashundhara Shuvosangho appeared in the scene with adequately stuffed relief packets, he said, adding that even in the past Bashundhara Shuvosangho had repeatedly come to the rescue for his village – unlike other welfare organisations.
Then there was Ainal Haque, who is 71-year old and travels on a wheelchair due to a cardiac arrest seriously harming his movement capabilities. Ainal said another day of river erosion would almost certainly diminish his only remaining abode. He had nothing to eat on Friday noon, Ainal added, highlighting his dire situation.
For Ainal, Bashundhara Shuvosangho came to the rescue just in the nick of time. Having received relief items early in the morning, he will not have to worry about his Friday lunch any longer, Ainal said as he blessed the organisation’s members.
Present at the relief distribution event were: the daily Kalerkantho’s Roumari Correspondent Sohel Rana Swapna, Bashundhara Shuvosangho’s Rajibpur Govt College unit President Ashik Mahmud, the unit’s General Secretary Shamim Ahmed, Organisational Secretary Arif Mahmud, Vice-Presidents Masidul Islam and Saidur Rahman, Sports Affairs Secretary Mishkatul Miraz, Publication Secretary Sajjad, Bashundhara Shuvosangho’s Kodalkati Union unit President Aminur Rahman, the unit’s General Secretary Aminul Islam, Publication Secretary Sakib, Office Secretary Akaid and more.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
