A group of Bangladeshi-American undergraduate students from New York were considering the idea of helping distressed people in Bangladesh. However, as much as they wanted to help, they were looking for means to engage in a country that is far away in the East. More than 700 kilometres away in Canada, another group of young Bangladeshi expats were working for their fellow countrymen. They formed a platform to connect the people willing to help Bangladesh in the fight against Covid-19 to those who need the help. Back home in Bangladesh, another enthusiastic group of youths invigorated by the sacred spirit of 71, were fighting the pandemic relentlessly. And when the paths of these three groups intersected for the greater good, the project #ShelaiDidiMoni Phase II was successful executed, and it brought priceless smile on the faces of 500 distressed families in Bangladesh.
#ShelaiDidiMoni phase-II is basically the second part of a project by Bangladesh Emergency Action Against Covid-19 (BEACON), one of the many aid programmes they are conducting under different campaigns. This particular project aims to aid the garment workers in Bangladesh who are directly affected by the ongoing pandemic. "We can't think of solving a problem of such magnitude because this needs coordinated effort on a national scale. However, what we can do is stand by the ones who are suffering to the best of our abilities and hopefully stand by them to ameliorate their pain," said Ashfaque Kabir, the founder of BEACON -- an initiative that is empowering youth initiatives throughout this pandemic and have successfully completed more than 50 projects in the last four months.
The effort made by BEACON to stand by garment workers, regardless of its proportion, is beyond appreciation. While the first phase of the project saw 150 unemployed garment workers families (including victims from the Rana Plaza accident) aided, the second phase took an even bigger and better shape with 500 unemployed garment workers including those from Tazreen Fashion accident receiving food aid. This time with BEACON, joined #BacharLorai and Bengali Students Association at Cornell University (BSA Cornell).
BEACON's ShelaiDidiMoni second phase received a significant boost by the efforts of the undergraduate students of BSA Cornell. As Ashaque pointed out, "The manner in which these young ambitious group stepped up for the country's suffering people, the passion, energy and sophistication in their fundraising campaign was simply remarkable and very inspirational indeed." While Covid-19 made America itself look dilapidated and tired fighting it, what could be the situation of a poor third world country like Bangladesh? This question arose in Fareeza's mind, the president of BSA Cornell who discussed the idea of sending some help in Bangladesh with her club members. "Normally, flood visits Bangladesh almost every year. However, the year 2020 has brought two more unwelcome guests with the previous one- pandemic and cyclone. There is no way Bangladesh could easily survive all three," explained Fareeza about what urged BSA Cornell to step forward. However, then the question came, how they would raise a fund with limited experience and how would it reach Bangladesh in a high impact project through reliable means.
At this point #BacharLorai appeared in rescue. BacharLorai is a social movement initiative that brings together willing donors and grassroots organisations to work in humanitarian cause. It was formed by a group of Bangladeshi expats based in Canada to connect the willingness of donation in humane cases among the significantly large Bangladeshi diasporas throughout Canada, Britain and North America. "Living in a privileged condition in Canada made us feel responsible for our country where people are struggling," said Tahmid Hasib Khan, founder of #BacharLorai on what made them step up. While a lot of grassroots organisations working in Bangladesh, the problem they face mainly is about funding. #BacharLorai makes things simplified and directly reaches the on field fighters with willing donors.
However, in this particular case, the donors reached #BacharLorai first. Initially BSA Cornell found activities of #BacharLorai on Facebook and reached them through their official Facebook page to discuss about their idea. So #BacharLorai guided them on fund raising and connected them to BEACON. And that's how three inspiring group of youths made it on the same page of the story. As Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur are areas with the greatest number of garment factories in Bangladesh, BEACON concentrated on these areas for #ShelaiDidiMoni phase-II. While BSA Cornell provided the majority of the fund, BEACON coordinated resources on group by connecting with labour rights groups, preparing surveys and list of beneficiaries and coordinating resources. BEACON also partnered with Give Bangladesh for volunteer support and distribution for successfully executing a challenging project of such a large scale. Each of these food ration packets included rice, potato, oil, onion, pulse, salt and soap -and surely one more thing in a whole lot amount that is care born from wholehearted love.
It is often seen that great gestures of humanity and love comes along with the moment of great crisis. The beauty of this #ShelaiDidiMoni phase-II doesn't lie with the quantity of food or number of families it is distributed among, but the way it is done. Across countries, across continents, dispelling thousands of miles of geographic distance, these three separate group of youths united themselves together on a single cause driven by something very special that is patriotism.
"Bangladesh will always be home to us," said the VP of BSA Cornell Mahdia while talking about how they look at Bangladesh. These students are very much conscious of their own culture and proudly representing it to their American friends. This sense of ownness derived from cultural consciousness has made them enable to raise close to fifteen thousand dollars for different Covid-19 related projects in Bangladesh. And the Native Americans who are willingly donating even though they are struggling themselves are doing this for a reason.
"As many American companies have canceled their orders causing shut down of garments factories in Bangladesh and leaving the garments workers unemployed, they feel liable for the situation and urge to help," explained Fareeza why natives are helping despite being in dire condition. Right now, #PayUp movement in USA is gaining momentum as people are talking louder than before about unjust cancellations of orders. This BSA Cornell initiative of raising a fund for the unemployed garments workers in Bangladesh was highlighted on the official Instagram account dedicated for PayUp movement which enhanced the campaign to some extent.
Mohammed Ullah, the treasurer of BSA Cornell, pointed out an excellent outcome of this campaign coming as a byproduct which is awareness. Those who donated to their campaign became aware of the crisis in Bangladesh in the process. They will eventually spread it to a wider section which could eventually spur more such fund raising campaigns. In fact, it has already induced many to come forward. Students associations from Columbia University, George Washington University and Penn State University have already contacted #BacharLorai for similar cause. Nabiha and Amer, publicity chair and secretary of BSA Cornell respectively, resonated another beautiful side of the campaign reflecting on the fact that this young generation hasn't forgotten where they came from.
The term 'spirit of 71' is frequently used by political leaders in Bangladesh though it is not well defined. Ashfaque, however, firmly believes that the essence of this abstract term is implicit in concrete work. Hence, this #ShelaiDidiMoni project itself represents that sacred spirit-- the spirit that preaches 'Humanity first'.
Mohammad Saiful Islam is an MSS student of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University. He can be reached at [email protected]
