From cultural activists to Covid volunteers

When the Covid-19 pandemic began, some cultural activists could not bear the thought of staying back home as everyone else suffered.

Confronting their own fears of the deadly virus, they came forward and tried to help out those in distress in anyway they could.

From going door-to-door on a 24/7 on-demand oxygen service, to arranging food, masks, and sanitisers, they dedicated themselves to the service of others. They did all of this despite most of them being unemployed and having no way to earn their own living. They belong to an organisation called "Bibarton Jashore".

"We are cultural activists. We do what we do for the sake of society's wellbeing, with the hope that our contributions can help bring a positive change," Nawroz Alam Khan Chopol, president of the organisation, told The Daily Star recently.

With 55 cylinders at their disposal, they provide oxygen to over 500 patients across the district, Chopol said. In addition, they also run a vaccination registration booth to assist people enroll their names into the government website.