Every year, the remote rural areas of Bangladesh are hit with some of the coldest winters in the country. Those up north and around the coastal areas suffer the most, especially those who are less fortunate than us. Seeing them survive these harsh conditions, in nothing but thin worn-out tattered rags, makes us realize that their need for warmth is greater than ours.
And with that goal, the AIUB Social Welfare Club, ‘Shomoy’, puts together their efforts and determination each winter, to bring some comfort to the underprivileged community of our country. The ‘Winter Clothing Drive’ is an annual initiative of the Shomoy Club, to raise funds for providing warm blankets to those in need. Campaigning for a week amongst the students, administration, and faculty, Shomoy Club was able to cater to approximately 530 families in the Gucchogram village of the Panchagarh District in Rangpur. Being one of the coldest regions in the country, the response to such an initiative was without a doubt, overwhelming. There were so many in need, but sadly, so few we could accommodate in numbers.
In order to make the most of what they had, on the 6th of January 2016, members of the club visited numerous households in area, including several of those who were once freedom fighters, to identify families whose living environment and overall conditions were comparatively worse than the others. Tokens were handed out to them, asking them to come to the distribution center the following day to collect their blankets, but the turnout was more than expected. With the help of the District Administration Office of Panchagarh, the distribution was successfully completed, spreading the warmth to families in need, although the outcome made us realize just how many more needed it and unfortunately spent the winter in the cold. AIUB is no doubt, proud of Shomoy Club and all their endeavors that aim to help those around us, but we can only hope and pray that the youth of Bangladesh follow suit and do more for the welfare of our society.
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