A family legacy of helping the poor
At the heart of Dhaka's Baridhara block-G, lies a one-acre graveyard that has been serving as the final resting place for thousands of people for decades. But what sets this graveyard apart is its unique story of generosity.
Established around 150 years ago by a local businessman, the graveyard was initially intended for the burial of his family members. However, after his death, his son Alimuddin decided to open it up for the public, particularly for those who couldn't afford a burial at the city's government graveyards.
Alimuddin's wish to give back to the community didn't end there. Before his death, he donated an additional acre of land as a waqf estate (permanent endowment by a Muslim of any of his property for a purpose recognised by the Muslim Law as 'religious, pious or charitable'), with the intention of building a mosque and an orphanage.
At present, the graveyard is maintained by Alimuddin's son Tota Miah, 90, and grandson Akhter Hossain, with donations from the well-off. Besides, the mosque and orphanage stand proudly on the donated land.
"The graveyard also provides free clothes to those who cannot afford one, and anyone with a national identity card and a phone number can bury a family member in the graveyard," said Tota Miah.
As Dhaka city corporations charge a fee of over Tk 1,100 for a burial, the generosity of the Alimuddin family has provided a vital service to the underprivileged families in the area.
Akhter Hossain, current supervisor of the graveyard, said, "It would not have been possible to maintain the graveyard and run the mosque and orphanage without their generous contributions."
Mamun Ali, a 70-year-old local, echoed him.
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