Mymensingh’s Ali sets a benevolent example

It is heartening to learn from a recent report published in this daily that a 49-year-old poet in Mymensingh named Ali Yusuf has been selflessly serving his community for a long time, and even more extensively, after the pandemic struck Bangladesh. Inspired by the altruistic nature of his parents—his father was a truck driver who helped his poor relatives with the full support of his spouse—Ali now continues his philanthropic work with the earnings from his printing press, along with the support from his wife, three children and an orphaned nephew, who is part of their family.

Ali is the perfect example of how a person can be helpful to fellow human beings in one's own way, no matter the magnitude of the work that they do. He serves as the coordinator of one of the three teams of volunteers that bury or cremate deceased Covid-19 patients in Mymensingh city. The humble man is also known to arrange financial aid for the needy through his influential social media handle. When countless people are taking a blow from the economic recession, Ali and his volunteers continue to arrange and distribute relief materials to the underprivileged. A blood donor himself, Ali is also in the advisory body of three blood donation groups and organises blood donation camps on a regular basis.

At a time when many of us are going through our own hardships and can barely make any time to check the state our neighbours are in, a modest Ali continues to do his part relentlessly, inspiring countless people in the process, including the volunteers who have been working with him. Yet, he credits them and his family members for his actions. Ali's extended hands to the needy should serve as an example for the rich and the affluent to follow. We strongly believe that if more people can adopt similar endeavours in their respective communities, it will play a vital role and go a long way to ameliorate the anguish that seems to be ever so prevalent during the pandemic.