Social organization spreading dream among Pirgachha residents

Md. Akramul Islam, Pirgachha (Rangpur)

A social organization “Swapna Chhui Youth Foundation” in Pirgachha Upazila of the district is spreading dreams of a better future among the locals.

Passing Chhawla Union Parishad, a few kilometers to the east is a vast char area. Almost 100 percent electrification has been ensured there but the communication system has not been developed yet. A little further away are vegetable gardens in front of some houses. After getting closer, this correspondent saw a boy of 15/16 years old was teaching about a hundred little children. Some middle-aged women were sewing hats.

Apart from providing nutritious gardens, quality education for children, and creating employment for women, a few youths in the village are dreaming of changing the fate of the char people.

In 2019, three youths- Mehedi Hasan, a student of Jagannath University, Shariful Islam, a student of Bangabandhu Science and Technology University, and Majedul Islam, a student of National University, formed the organization named “Swapna Chhui Youth Foundation” which mainly works with the backward communities of the north. Later, some other educated youths of that area- Maidul Islam, Alamgir Hossain, Belal Hossain, Kamrul Hasan, Saidur Rahman Shakil, Ferdous Hasan Nahid, and Kamal Hasan joined the organization.

The organization is working to ensure the basic rights of people like education, poverty, and medical treatment through removing the superstition among the char people. Besides, they formed a blood donation service “Swapna Chhui Blood Bank”. At present, more than 500 volunteers of the organization are carrying out blood donation and humanitarian activities throughout Rangpur.

The President of the organization Mehedi Hasan said, “We are working on basic issues like hunger, poverty, employment, and medical treatment. We are encouraging the youth to build a humane Bangladesh. We engage youth in humanitarian work as well as various vocational activities including freelancing.”

The General Secretary of the organization Shariful Islam said, “We are mainly working to bring smiles to the faces of these poor people who are victims of Teesta River erosion. Also, our ‘Swapna Chhui School’ project is ongoing so that the children of char area do not drop out. All these children are being educated for free.”

Majedul Islam, treasurer of the organization, said, “We do not need financial support in these activities. As our organization is registered with the Department of Youth Development, we can train unemployed and underemployed women for free. A few days ago some women over 50 years of age took training in making hats. Now their handmade hats are going to different countries of the Middle East including Qatar.”

While visiting on the spot, it was found that more than 30 young entrepreneurs were working as entrepreneurs in Char Kandina after being encouraged by the organization.

One of the members of the organization is Tanmoy Kumar Barman, who received training through the organization during the Corona period and earned about Tk 10 lakh from a poultry farm. Tanmoy Kumar said, “Besides humanitarian work in this organization, I established the farm after taking the training on poultry farming. I am contributing to my family through this income.”

One of the founders of the organization, Shariful Islam, is preparing rice from the country’s first digital rice husking pedal. He is a member of the organization. He said that he is supplying this rice all over the country and has become self-sufficient. Moreover, during the Corona period, apart from raising awareness among the people about the coronavirus, the organization also introduced telemedicine services and provided masks, hand sanitizers, and food items to the helpless people.

About their activities, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nazmul Haque Sumon said, “Swapna Chhui Youth Foundation is an organization of young people. They are trying to build a platform with the grassroots people, where employment opportunities will be created for some people. We welcome their initiative.”