Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be challenging to consider how to help those in need. While many charitable foundations operate formally or semi-formally, a particular form has shown great promise with its rising prominence.
“Manobotar Deyal,” which literally means the “Wall of Humanity,” has a simple premise. A sign is hung on a wall, announcing to people they can drop off things they do not need, and those who do need them can take them away, no questions asked, no paperwork required.
The most common object is clothing, although people have left books, toys, even furniture in some cases.
In 2015, Yasmin Akhtar, head teacher at Arpara Primary Model School in Magura, set up “Mohanubhobotar Deyal” or the “Wall of Generosity.” She discussed her initiative during a workshop, where another teacher called Tanjina Naznin Misty from Kishoreganj’s South Muksedpur Government High School was fascinated by the idea. She, too, transformed a wall at her own school.
Soon after, imitators began popping up. Some were in Dhaka, and some across the nation. Every time the wall caught someone’s eye, there was a chance it would go viral on the internet. Without any coordination or explicit directions, the walls have begun a grass-roots level, anonymous, person-to-person charity platform operating on good faith.
The Lalbagh Sporting Club in Old Dhaka uses the same form, with a spin on the message: “Diyeo nei gorbobodh, niteo nei lojjabodh (No pride in donating, no shame in taking aid).”
Asad Ashraf, treasurer of the Football Affairs Sub-Committee, spearheaded the effort nearly by himself. He used to give away old, unused clothes from his family to the needy in winter. But once he saw a viral post on Facebook about the wall, he decided to try it out himself. With the help of his club and a local group called Dhakaiya Oikya, the wall has flourished at the Lalbagh intersection.
Where once only a few clothes would be taken, now they run out so quickly that the organizers continue to be surprised.
Asad said: “Some local residents donate clothes, and some take them. Once news broke of what we were doing, people have been sending us clothes via courier services.”
Smiling with contentment, Asad continued: “I do not want to close the wall as long as I live. It will continue to be here.”
Dhaka Tribune has found similar initiatives in Shukrabad, Mohakhali, Banani, Mirpur, Bhashantek and Mohammadpur areas.
Two grocery shop associates named Md Masum and Md Rashed set up the wall in Shukrabad to help people donate and collect clothes as they need.
On the Mohakhali-Gulshan road, the initiative is located on the wall of the central laboratory of the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE).
It has also been reported in different districts, including Manikganj, Netrokona, Sirajganj and Mymensingh.
In Manikganj, the wall is located at the Shaheed Rafiq Chattar. An overhead message on the wall says: "Apnar oproyojoniyo jinish rekhey jan, proyojoniyo jinish ekhan theke niye jan (Leave what is unnecessary, take what you need).”
But not all initiatives have flourished. In some cases, like in Uttara or Mirpur, the walls have failed to attract much attention, leading to either clothes getting piled up, or the walls torn down. And like all initiatives, they are at times looked at with suspicion.
