FROM MEGHLA TOURISM COMPLEX (BANDARBAN): I got surprised to see the writings on the main gate of ‘Meghla, service oriented tourism center’. How tourism center can be service oriented!
I asked this question to Bandarban deputy commissioner (DC) Dilip Kumar Banik.
He said that the DC’s education and assistance Trust is being run by the income of Meghla. This Trust has been established to assist the ultra-poor students, particularly for the meritorious students who need financial assistance to continue their studies.
With this Trust money Rupamaya Tanchangya, son of a poor jhum family of rubber forest, is studying at Dhaka University (DU).
Meritorious Rupamaya successfully completed his SSC and HSC with extra credit and later he successfully qualified at DU admission test. But poverty became a barrier for his studies. His poor father failed to manage required money for admission. It was the story of early 2016. He almost gave up hope to study at DU.
Afterwards, he applied to the DC for money for his admission. He wrote in the application that he will be able to continue his study by doing tuitions. He now wants only financial assistance for getting admission.
Dilip Kumar Banik told Rupamaya to meet him and later gave him money for his admission and purchasing books. The DC even assured him that he will provide him Tk 3,000 every month so that he can continue his studies.
It is bounty of nature that Rupamaya wanted only assistance for his admission but he got assurance for all of his education expenses for life. Accordingly, he has been getting the promised money each month since then.
Not only Rupamaya but also there are some others who are under the safety net of the trust. This assistance is for the students, who are thinking that one day they will become ranked officers and will end the sufferings of their poor parents.
This money is coming from Meghla Tourism Center. This education assistance Trust has been established by DC Dilip Kumar Banik this year.
Moreover, a FDR with Taka 20-lakh has been made for smooth running of the Trust, said NDC Hossain Muhammad Al Mujahid.
According to the DC, he is trying to increase the fund gradually. The question was that what would be the main objective of forming the Trust?
He said that the staff of the Meghla are not fully government employees. So, the Trust has been formed to ensure their salary and other benefits.
He further said that the income of Meghla is not consistent. We need money for its development and refurbishment. So, this Trust has been formed to avoid these complexities.
Dilip Kumar Banik is the forerunner of this kind of Trust. DC of Sirajganj and two other districts have also formed trusts like Bandarban.
According to locals, Dilip Kumar Banik is the pioneer of the Trust. He always thinks about the welfare of people.
Bandarban tourism has got a new life in the hand of Dilip Banik. He wants to kindle the backward education situation of the district with the light of the Trust.
He has proved his hereditary title Banik. He has proved that he has not come here for doing the routine work. He wants to do something more.
Love is his ‘commodity’ for the local people. He has won their hearts through his work.
BDST: 0815 HRS, OCT 21, 2016
Shahjahan/BD/RR/SMS
