‘Serve people in a way that the recipient feels dignified’

Speakers at a seminar yesterday said one should serve people in a way that the person receiving the service feels dignified. 

They were speaking at the District Governor’s Call “Serve for Smile”, organised by Lion’s Club International, District 315-B4, Bangladesh at Chittagong Club in the port city.

Dr SM Shameem Reza, professor of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, presented the keynote at the seminar.

He said every person should have the value of humanity.

He said members of Lion’s Club through their service bring smiles to the faces of underprivileged people in the society.

“We should emphasise on humanity while planning for development. Development should not be justified with numbers,” he said.

Prof Md Sekandar Khan and Ferdous Ara Aleem were honoured with gold medals at the event, for their contributions to social services.

Kamrun Malek, district governor of the club, presided over the seminar. “There are hundreds of langauges around the world, but a smile speaks for all, she said.

“At a time when the country is developing, a single hungry person is a matter of shame for us,” she said.

“Well-off individuals and organisations should contribute in meeting basic rights of underprivileged people alongside the government,” Malek said.

“People will smile only when they get their five basic rights fulfilled,” she added.

MA Malek, editor of leading local daily Dainik Azadi, said members of Lion’s Club have been working in the country to serve the distressed since 1962.

Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, was present as chief guest at the event.

“One should not serve people for receiving rewards, nor for recognition, power or honour,” he said. “Service should be delivered in such a way that the person receiving it feels dignified.” 

He said Bangladesh survives because of rivers. “As a matter of fact, the land of the country is a result of the alluvial of the river through thousands of years, but we are polluting our rivers everyday,” he said, adding that polluting rivers is equal to polluting one’s blood vessel.