A rickshaw-puller in Jamalpur has donated to the prime minister’s relief fund by selling his cow to contribute to the aid efforts of the government amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Hazrat Ali, 65, a resident of Pathalia Chatar More area in Jamalpur municipality, handed over Tk13,000 to the district Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Mokhlesur Rahman on Tuesday.
Hazrat Ali lived in a rented house in Dhaka’s Rajarbag area since 2006 and earned a living by pulling rickshaw. He has a wife, two daughters and two sons. Both the daughters got married, one son is a day labourer and the other studies in a local school.
Hazrat became unemployed due to the lockdown following the coronavirus pandemic and had to move back to Jamalpur with his wife a few months ago.
He had bought a cow earlier with his savings, but had to sell the cow because he was not being able to make any income during this pandemic period. He donated the money he received from selling the cow to support those who have also become unemployed like him.
Hazrat Ali said: “I am a poor man myself but the country’s situation does not seem good. Many people are getting affected by the coronavirus. Lot of them are suffering from poverty, some are dying and some cannot even buy medicine."
“I did not feel good after seeing all these. What will I do with the money? It is still not sure that I will survive. If Allah keeps me alive, I can earn more in the future and for this I have donated a small amount to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fund by selling the cow, bought with my hard-earned money.”
Mokhlesur Rahman said: “Rickshaw-puller Hazrat donated the money with the thought of supporting those who are poorer than him, which is a great deed.”
“Following the proper procedure, his money will be soon sent to the prime minister. The district administration will always remember his contribution and we are really thankful and grateful to him,” he added.
On Monday, a cobbler, Milon Robidas, from Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur donated Tk20,000 from his savings to the prime minister’s relief fund.
