Rehabilitation Centres

Mohammad Amjad Hossain :
Bangladesh appears to be most populous country in the world with more than 1000 packed into every square kilometer, apart from according to World Bank data of 2010 nearly one third of 160 million population is living below the national poverty level while more than two million people in the capital city either live in slums or are without any proper shelter. Habitat for Humanity of Great Britain in collaboration with the Korean International Cooperation agency and Dutch agency since 1999 has been working with low-income families to fight housing poverty in Bangladesh by building decent homes or repairing their houses.
It seems to be an irony that there are now apparently 21,399 millionaires living in Bangladesh, according to Credit Suisse Research Institute but hardly many rehabilitation centers for old men and women have been established in Bangladesh. Incidentally the members of Central Kachi-Kachar mela under the leadership of former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank and Director of biggest children organization Kachi-Kachar mela late Khandaker Ibrahim Khaled accompanied by former Deputy Director of the Children organization Mohammad Amjad Hossain enjoyed picnic at rehabilitation center for older people at Gazipur in 2002 which was established by founder chairman and Managing Director of Given see group of Industries Mr. Khatib Abdul Zahid Mukul. Children of Kachi-Kanchar Mela enjoyed a picnic. This rehabilitation Centre was inaugurated by Nobel Laureate Madam Mother Teresa on 21st April in 1995. It is located at Bishia kuthibari, Monipur under Gazipur.
This writer incidentally met some old women and talked to them. One of the ladies had graduated from Lady Brabourne College in Calcutta but was disregarded by wives of her sons. Having been dissatisfied by wives of her own son, she decided to take shelter in a rehabilitation center. This center was provided with a TV set, a set of newspapers and magazines, apart from the library and vegetable garden was located within a few radiuses from the rehabilitation center. It is really fascinating to note that a garment factory was located a few furlongs from the rehabilitation center whose management was conducted by women and only the gatekeeper was man. Basic facilities like food and clothes, including medical treatment is offered free of cost.
Expenses of rehabilitation centers are covered by income of businesses of Givensee Group of Industries. This writer would like to draw attention to article 26 of rehabilitation of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. As of now no rich people came forward, apart from Mr. Khatib Abdul Zahid Mukul. I salute Mr. Khatib Abdul Zahid Mukul for his act for old men and old women.
According to the International Labour organisation more than 4,5 million people are working in 4,500 garment factories in Bangladesh. It is expected that many owners of garment factories should think of building rehabilitation centres for poor workers of garment factories as well. Bangladesh has become the world’ s second largest home for the garment industry after China while earning from this industry stands at more than $ 30 billion. Therefore, any billionaire should not shy away from investing for poor people in Bangladesh. The Proprietor of Givensee Group of Industries should be a glaring example to establish rehabilitation centers for neglected old men and women.
It is heartening to learn that the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has initiated to provide houses to needy and homeless people. According to recent report as many as 53,340 houses were handed over to homeless and landless families under Ashrayan project by June this year, apart from 66,189 houses were handed over to landless and homeless people as a gift in January this year. Ashrayan project is the largest humanitarian project of the Prime Minister. The project has been spread over in different districts of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh. It is therefore expected that billionaires should come forward to invest in projects for the poor people in the country.

(Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova Toastmaster nternational Club of America, writes from Falls Church, Virginia).