Warmth to the poorest

Amid the ongoing shivering cold spell, especially in the northern region of the country, Faraaz Hossain Foundation has set out to provide warmth and comfort to the poorest.

Over the last couple of days, the foundation has distributed blankets to more than 3,000 cold affected people -- mostly rickshaw pullers, beggars and homeless -- in Rangpur and Dinajpur.

In Rangpur, a little over 2,000 blankets were distributed at RCCI School and College ground on Sunday. The distribution work in Dinajpur city started yesterday at Station Club in association with Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

Reza Humayun Kabir Chowdhury Shamim, president of DCCI, inaugurated the programme by handing over a blanket to Abdul Gaffar, a 57-year-old man who uses a wheelchair for his disabilities caused by a road accident in 2000.

“This blanket will help me a lot to survive this intense cold,” Abdul Gaffar said.

In a brief speech to the hundreds who gathered to collect their blankets, DCCI President Reza, the chief guest of the event, explained how Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain has set an example of courage, friendship and humanity by sacrificing his life at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on July 1, 2016. He also requested all to pray for Faraaz's departed soul.

Anwarul Islam, vice president of DCCI and also a special guest of the programme, said the giving away of blankets to the underprivileged by Faraaz Hossain Foundation has been a timely decision as “the cold wave has affected the lives of many people, mainly rickshaw pullers and beggars who sleep alongside the streets in the open...”

Zahid Hussain, director (operations) of Transcom Consumer Products Ltd; Arif Iqbal, general manager of Transcom Ltd, Tea Holdings Ltd and Transcom Distribution Co Ltd; Zahid Hossain Faisal, marketing manager of Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd; and Khalid Mahmood, assistant general manager (marketing) of Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd; were present on behalf of Faraaz Foundation.