It was 10:00am on January 16. A team of Kaler Kantho’s Shuvo Sangha central committee, led by its director Zakaria Zaman, started for Dinajpur from Dhaka. With the help of Bashundhara Group, their aim was to distribute blankets to the hapless and underprivileged people in different parts of the country. They reached the northern district around 8:00pm. 

Members of Dinajpur Shuvo Sangha welcomed them with wreaths. Following the exchange of greetings, the discussion about the next day's activities began. When, where and how the blankets will be distributed discussed till 10:00pm. Upon completion of the discussion, everyone fell to sleep after reaching the hotel.

On the foggy morning of January 17, the blanket distribution programme began at Sardeswari Girls High School ground in Dinajpur city. After that, blankets were distributed in Birol, Kaharol, Birganj and Khansama upazilas. 

The next day, blankets were distributed in Chirirbandar, Parbatipur, Nawabganj, Bochaganj and Hakimpur upazilas. Shuvo Sangha distributed 3,000 blankets with the help of Bashundhara Group in Dinajpur in two days. After completing the last blanket distribution programme in Hakimpur of the district, the next destination was Joypurhat.

On reaching Joypurhat, the activities of the day concluded after the organisational discussion with the members of the local Shuvo Sangha. Deputy Commissioner Salehin Tanveer Gazi inaugurated the blanket distribution programme at Joypurhat circuit house ground on the morning of January 19.

An old woman named Amena Khatun, who got a blanket, said, "I could not sleep well wearing a thick cloth in the winter. Every night seemed hard to me. I cannot count the number of people to whom I asked for a blanket but all my efforts went in vain. Today they (Bashundhara Group) have given me a blanket. I can't explain how necessary it was for me."

That day, the Shuvo Sangha team left Joypurhat for Naogaon after distributing 1,000 blankets to Panchbibi, Kalai, Khetlal and Akkelpur upazilas.

Naogaon district is geographically a part of the larger Barendra land. On January 20, the blanket distribution programme started at the PTI ground in Naogaon and a total of 2,000 blankets were distributed in Badalgachi, Patnitala, Sapahar and Manda upazilas.

During the distribution of blankets at Patnitala, Shuvo Sangha found Masuma Akhter, who got GPA 5 in the secondary school certificate examination despite various adversities. 

Masuma's father is a betel leaf seller by profession. Masuma used to collect old books and read those. Despite good results in the SSC exams, her admission in college was uncertain due to lack of funds. Observing such a situation, Zakaria Zaman handed over Tk 11,000 to the talented student for taking admission and purchasing new books. He assured Masuma that as long as there is Shuvo Sangha she doesn’t need to worry about her studies.

From Naogaon, this time the destination was Rajshahi, the divisional city which is famous for its natural beauty and cleanliness. On January 21, blankets were distributed among more than 5,00 underprivileged people in a sugarcane garden in Pirijpur village of Godagari, which is located right across the Padma River. 

The old people who were passing a terrible time amid the strong wind and cold of the Padma took blankets and wrapped them around their bodies. One of them was Asya Bewa.

After getting a blanket, she got very emotional and said, "It's too cold, I can't keep my feet on the ground properly. This cozy blanket will give me instant comfort. I will be able to sleep comfortably at night. May Allah bless the Bashundhara Group owner and others concerned. They thought about poor people like me."

After completing the distribution of 1,000 blankets in various upazilas including Godagari of Rajshahi district, the Shuvo Sangha team reached Chapainawabganj which is known as 'Mango State'. On the day, the daily programme ended with the distribution of blankets among 250 underprivileged people in the Chapainawabganj Girls High School ground. 

Later, the team spent the night at Sonamasjid Tourist Motel. The natural surroundings of the motel and the barking sound of foxes coming from the deep darkness of the mango orchard created a thrilling situation among the members of the Shuvo Sangha.

On January 21, early in the morning, the blanket distribution programme started in Shibganj Upazila of Chapainawabganj. Some 15 women of Chapainawabganj who were humiliated during the Liberation War in 1971 were recognised as war heroines. Despite this, they were neglected in the society. They were suffering in winter. 

Blankets were distributed among 500 helpless people including them. Apart from this, Shuvo Sangha distributed blankets among 250 people in Bholahat and Nachol upazilas and distributed a total of 1,000 blankets in the district.

From Chapainawabganj, the Shuvo Sangha team's next destination was Panchagarh, the northernmost district of the country, about 300 kilometers away. Starting at 4:00 pm the team reached Panchagarh at 1:00 am. 

The blanket distribution programme started at Bir Muktijoddha Sirajul Islam Stadium in the district town early the next morning. Tahima Bewa, a woman aged over sixty at the old camp area of the district town, thanked Bashundhara Group after receiving blanket.

"I couldn’t sleep due to severe cold. I went to many and requested people for a blanket but Bashundhara Group has found me and addressed my needs. I pray to the Almighty Allah for Bashundhara Group Chairman and his family members," she said.

The Shuvo Sangha team reached the next destination Nilphamari district after completing the distribution of a total of 1,000 blankets in Dimagaj village and Khoikhat para Nurania Hafizia Madrasa field of Tentulia upazila and in Atwari and Boda upazila in the afternoon. 

On January 24, some 1,000 blankets were distributed in Sadar, Jaldhaka, Dimla and Saidpur upazilas of the district. After distribution of blankets in Jaldhaka, Director of Shuvo Sangha Zakaria Zaman went to visit the Shuvo Sangha School established in Charani village and distributed books among the students. 

Teacher of the school, Ayesha Siddika said, "Our school's teaching programme started in December 2021 with the support of Shuvo Sangha Jaldhaka branch. At present the school has 30 students in class I and 30 in class II.”

Thakurgaon was the destination of the Shuvo Sangha team after completing the activities in Nilphamari. Shuvo Sangha aimed to distribute 1,000 blankets in five upazilas of the district. On the morning of January 25, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mamun Bhuiyan inaugurated the blanket distribution programme at the local BD Hall ground.

Addressing the programme, he said, "I express my gratitude and thanks to Bashundhara Group for standing by the poor people of the society this winter. During this winter, the poor people suffer the most. This gift of Bashundhara Group will benefit them."  

Blankets were distributed among martyr families and brave freedom fighters in Jagannathpur area of Sadar Upazila of the district. Rasmuni Bewa, a member of the martyr family who came to take the blanket said, "The cold of the month of Magh has paralysed my life. Thanks Bashundhara Group. Now I will be able to spend the winter with this blanket."

Apart from this, blankets were distributed among 2,000 helpless and cold-hit people in Pabna and Narayanganj. The Shuvo Sangha central committee team from Thakurgaon returned to Dhaka after the first phase of blanket distribution. Through this, Bashundhara Group's gifts reached 13,000 people in 10 districts of the country.

After returning to Dhaka, the central team of Shuvo Sangha was busy organising a programme to provide educational assistance to 104 poor and needy meritorious students who obtained good results in the secondary school certificate examination with the support of Bashundhara Group. 

On January 31, Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir handed over a one-time financial aid of Tk 25,000 to each student through a ceremony at his residence. These students will also be given a scholarship of Tk 2,000 per month.

The Shuvo Sangha team started again on February 2 to distribute blankets in different places of Gazipur. A total of 1,000 blankets were distributed at Pubail Balur Math in Gazipur city at 10:00am, at Eidgah ground in Uttarkham of Kapasia at 1:30 pm, at Pabur Eidgah ground in Kapasia at 3:30pm and at Darul Uloom Madrasa ground in Satkhamair of Sreepur at 6:00pm. 

Next journey was from Sreepur to Nazrul Academy Dak Bungalow located in Trishal, Mymensingh. They stayed there for two days and distributed blankets among the helpless and underprivileged people including madrasa students, old home residents of Trishal, Nandail, Gafargaon, Fulbaria and Bhaluka upazilas of the district.

Apart from this, 3,000 more blankets were distributed in Narsingdi and Sylhet along with the surrounding areas of Dhaka. The Shuvo Sangha team completed the distribution of 5,000 blankets in the second phase.

Director of Shuvo Sangha Zakaria Zaman said “A total of 18,000 blankets have been distributed by Bashundhara Group in 15 districts of the country this year. Distribution of these blankets started in the cold-hit northern region of the country.”

“Many of the beneficiaries were overwhelmed with joy and thanked Almighty Allah for receiving Bashundhara's blanket. Raising two hands, they prayed for Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan. Our good work will continue in the days to come, Insha'Allah,” he added.

BDST: 1602 HRS, MAR 04, 2023
MN