Solace in the service of humanity

Kohinoor Begum, having lost her younger son in a tragic incident two years ago, finds solace in helping people in distress. She still grieves for her son and she can’t control her tears, but now has devoted her life to the cause of humanity. She has established the Payel Foundation and, with her life savings and assistance from her husband and her son who works overseas, she continues in this mission.

Kohinoor Begum’s younger son, Saidur Rahman Payel was a student of North South University in the capital city Dhaka. Two years ago, on 21 July 2018, he was on the way from Chattogram to Dhaka by a Hanif Enterprise air-conditioned bus when he went missing. Then on 23 July he was found dead at Bhaber Char in Gajaria, Munshiganj. His body was disfigured in such a manner, the family didn’t allow Kohinoor Begum to see her son’s dead body.

Police investigations later revealed that Payel had left the bus to use the washroom and when he was climbing back into the bus again, he was badly injured. Instead of sending the injured and bleeding Payel to hospital, the bus workers smashed his face and threw him into the river. Payel’s family filed charges and a number of persons were arrested. The case is under trial.

On Payel’s birthday, 2 November 2019, Kohinoor Begum made up her mind to do something for the people, and she had full support of her husband and elder son. Payel was dearly loved by his uncles, Kohinoor’s brothers. One of them, Fahad Chowdhury, a businessman, took initiative to make his sister’s dream come true and set up the Payel Foundation.

Payel’s friends joined the foundation as volunteers. They began by first planting 3000 neem trees in the Halishahar area of Chattogram. Then they gave support to a large number of needy persons.

And now, with the outbreak of coronavirus, they have stepped up their activities further. They have so far given around 4000 helpless, ultra-poor, homeless and struggling middleclass people supplies food for one week to 15 days. They have also provided a month’s supply of food and medicines to a family with several coronavirus-afflicted members. The foundation has also provided personal protective equipment (PPE) to members of the police force and volunteers who bury the dead bodies of coronavirus patients.

Kohinoor Begum is the advisor of the foundation and her younger brother Fahad Chowdhury is the chairman. As Kohinoor Begum hardly ever leaves her house since her son’s death, Fahad Chowdhury basically runs the foundation along with the volunteers.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Fahad Chowdhury said over the past two and a half months, they had distributed assistance worth Tk 784,000 among those in need. They hope to lend support to many more in the days ahead.

Kohinoor Begum, speaking to Prothom Alo, said, “I am still submerged in sorrow for my son. I find solace in helping others. I do not want anyone else to suffer from such inhumanity. That is why I send the message to all - be humanitarian.”