A beggar’s love for the destitute

A 70-year-old beggar in Sherpur has donated his three-year savings to the UNO's relief fund to support poor amid the countrywide shutdown to combat Covid-19.

Jhenaigati Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rubel Mahmud took an initiative to help the poor in the crisis time. Due to this, a bank account and a bKash number were opened to receive aid. Twelve members of a local club named 'The Pacific Club' also joined the initiative as volunteers.

Club president Abu Raihan Jewel, also a filmmaker, said on Tuesday, one of their members Rokibul Islam Rokon went to Gandhigaon village in the upazila to make a list of poor people who need relief.

When he visited the house of Nozim Uddin to collect his name for relief, the latter who lives on a portion of forest land asked Rokon to take him to the UNO office as he wanted to talk to the UNO, said Jewel.

When Nozim was taken to the UNO office at noon, he donated Tk 10,000 to the relief fund. He saved the money in the last three years to repair his thatched house.

Emotional Nozim said he earned the money from begging and now he wants to return the amount to those people who have been passing days unfed or half-fed in the trying time.

Contacted, the UNO said he never experienced such an incident during his eight-year-long career.

Nozim Uddin will be supported from the government's social safety net programme in future, he said.

Total Tk 450,000 including Tk 10,000 given by Nozim has been deposited to the relief fund so far, he added.

The UNO said as the prime minister (PM) noticed the news of Nozim Uddin's contribution to serve the poor, she asked her private secretary-1 Mohammad Salahuddin to look into the matter to reach immediate help for Nozim.

The secretary asked for an estimate and a design to build a house for Nozim from special allocation of the prime minister, he said.

"We have already prepared two designs estimating-Tk 8.50 lakh and Tk 12 lakh and the estimate was sent to Deputy Commissioner of Sherpur Anar Koli Mahbub on Wednesday," said the UNO.

The government will also provide all facilities including food and treatment to Nozim during his life time, said the UNO, adding that Nozim's wife will also get the facilities.

A grocery shop will also be arranged for Nozim so that he can lead a decent life, said the UNO.

Expressing his gratitude to the prime minister, Nozim said he has never thought of a concrete house but it has been made possible because of the PM.