It was the freezing winter of 2005. Eighty-year-old Chiaran had gone without food for three consecutive days. After an argument with her daughter-in-law, she had nothing to eat. Exhausted by hunger, life felt like an unbearable burden. When she began to eat a handful of rice offered by a neighbour, her daughter-in-law added ashes to it. Overwhelmed by humiliation, hunger and emotional pain, Chiaran attempted suicide by consuming poison.
Thanks to the vigilance of the villagers, she survived—but had no place to stay in her own home. At that critical moment, a neighbour, Ismat Ara, stood by her like an angel. She took Chiaran into her own home, offering shelter to the helpless woman. This marked the beginning of what would eventually become a humanitarian shelter.
From January 2006, more neglected, destitute, and unloved elderly women began seeking refuge in Ismat Ara’s home. Over time, this home grew into a well-known humanitarian institution in the district’s Harinakundu upazila—Jorapukuria Elderly Home and Rehabilitation Center. Here, the residents not only receive food and shelter but also care, affection, and a life of dignity.
As part of its humanitarian efforts, members of the Jhenaidah district unit Bashundhara Shuvosangho visited the elderly home on Friday to bring smiles to the residents’ faces by spending time with them and showing affection.
They listened to the women’s joys and sorrows, checked on their health and daily needs, and arranged a nutritious meal.
Ismat Ara, founder and director of the elderly home, said, “All those who live here are separated from their families. What they lack most is not money, but love. Today, the time that the Shuvosangho members have spent with them is the greatest gift we could receive.”
Shuvosangho members said that their main goal is to stand by the underprivileged and neglected members of society. Spending time with the elderly women of the home was an emotional experience for them as well.
Jhenaidah district unit Shuvosangho vice-presidents Assistant Professor Md Shahanur Alam, Assistant Professor (retd) KM Saleh, Saraswati Saha, General Secretary Keya Rani Pramanik, Joint General Secretary Shovon Saha Sabuj, and Executive member Anupam Biswas were present.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
