Poverty-stricken widows get Eid gifts in Joypurhat

Bashundhara Shuvosangho activists distributed “sarees” as Eid gifts among a selected group of widows at the remote Bashthupi village in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat on Wednesday.

These women don’t get anything new in Eid as they can scarcely manage two meals a day. These widows make a scant living by either working as domestic help in others’ houses or as day-labourers.

Many of these put on the same cloth for decades by simply patching up wears and tears with needlework.

One such widow, Mosammat Fereja Begum, said, “I cannot afford to buy anything for myself during Eid. Receiving this sari today makes it feel like Eid for me.”

Another beneficiary widow, Mosammat Hamida Khatun, said, “For people like us, Eid means worry and anxiety. My health is no longer good like before, so I cannot go to work. You have brought Eid gifts for people like us — we are very happy, my new sons from Shuvosangho. May Allah bless you.”

Expressing her gratitude, another recipient, Mosammat Charvan Begum, said, “I have spent so many Eids wearing old saris. Holding a new sari in my hands today truly makes it feel like Eid. You understand our suffering and stand by us — we are very happy.”

President of the Khetlal branch of Bashundhara Shuvosangho, M Russell Ahmed, said, “Our small effort is aimed at ensuring that Eid joy does remain absent in any household. Standing beside the underprivileged is our responsibility and commitment. We will continue such humanitarian activities in the future.”

Local Imam Abdul Momen said, “In Islam, special importance is given to supporting the helpless and widows. Such initiatives increase compassion in society and pave the way for attaining Allah’s pleasure.”