Dhaka, Bangladesh

Posted by pertorkelson | Filed under Bangladesh

The last day at work (19th Dec) before the Eid and Christmas holidays I worked in the office and in the afternoon, around 3:30 pm, I, Kanta and Nioty went to Kamlapur Railway Station and distributed t-shirts to 30 street children in the School Under the Sky who are regularly attending the class. It was a successful distribution.

The following day Kanta came to my apartment around lunchtime and gave me Eid cards and gifts as well, she had written some really nice words and brought very nice gifts for me. In the evening I walked downstairs to the garage in our building to have a look at all the cows and goats the people had bought for the Eid festivities.

The Eid Day was on the 21st of Dec, and it marked the beginning of Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest Muslim holidays in the year. In the morning I went with Ashu to witness qurbani (a ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal) in his uncle’s house, but we watched other people sacrificing cows as well. Last year I celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with my friends in Ghana, but it still felt different being apart of it here in Bangladesh. I got a bigger experience this year. After the qurbani I then went back to Karim Tower and was picked up by Repon (Kanta’s friend) and taken to Kanta’s house. I spent 7-8 hours in Kanta’s house celebrating the Eid Day; eating all different kinds of food dishes and socializing with her family members. Kanta’s niece Zerka, 12 years old, wanted to give me an Eid gift and decorate my hands with mehndi. Mehndi is a temporary form of skin decoration. It took her around two hours to finish it. Then in the evening around 7:30 pm I went to Nilufar’s family members in Dhanmondi and celebrated Eid Day there for several hours. I came home after midnight. Eid Day was a really great day for me.

The following two days during the Eid I spent most of my time with Ashu and his family and I  also relaxed and rested, I just enjoyed being off from work.

On Christmas Eve I received a very warm and special Christmas celebration in Ashu’s home. His mother had baked me a beautiful cake, I also received a very nice Christmas card together with gorgeous orchids and roses. It was a very special moment for me. The way I’m being welcomed in to people’s lives, it’s not only that I receive lifetime friendships, but it’s also gives me feelings that I can’t describe.

Today I have been working as Shishu Tori has had visitors. We went to all the three Schools Under the Sky and the street children received food after their classes. They were very happy when they had received it.

I want to wish you all a Happy New Year, a 2008 which will make you feel the way you want to feel…

Click here for photos

Permalink | December 26th, 2007

7 Responses to “Dhaka, Bangladesh”

  1. Anki Says:
    December 26th, 2007 at 11:06 pm

    Min käre son Per,
    Vi som har följt Ditt liv i Bangladesh i tre månader vet att Du trivs och arbetar mycket för gatubarnen. Du har sänt e-mail till Din släkt och Dina vänner samt bett at de i sin tur skall vidarebefordra det. Det är minst sagt tragiskt under vilka omständigheter gatubarnen lever och därför vill Shishu Tori Sangstha- STS försöka öppna ett Rehabilitaion Center för 50-70 gatuflickor så att de kan få en början på ett anständigt liv. Därför har jag öppnat ett speciellt konto för att alla som känner att de kan undvara kr 20,- eller kr 50,- eller mer, skall kunna göra detta utan att betala några bankkostnader.

    Kontohavare är: Street Children Rehab. Center
    Konto nr:5622-00 321 52, SE-Banken i Laholm

    Jag står som fullmaktsgivare och mina föräldrar har även fullmakt till detta konto och det är för att vi skall kunna överföra pengarna till Shishu Tori Sangstha’s konto i Dhaka. När det finns några tusen svenska kronor på kontot kommer vi att göra detta och vi i familjen kommer att stå för både de svenska och de utländska bankkostnaderna. Du vet, precis som alla andra som känner oss, att vi inte kommer att ta något öre för egen del.

    Vi förstår att Du uppfyller Ditt voluntär arbete till full belåtenhet och därför vill Din kvinnliga chef Mrs. Nilufar att Du skall åka med till Kolkata (Calcutta) när hon nu åker dit med sin familj på semester i ca en vecka. Ni får ha några sköna och avkopplande dagar och när ni kommer tillbaka till Dhaka i början på januari har ni laddat om batterierna. Då finns det en liten summa på Street Children Rehab. Centers konto. Vi kommer att skicka pengar så länge det finns något på detta konto.

    Pam Brown har skrivit en fin dikt, som jag tror att även gatubarnen går och tänker på och då i första hand de unga gatuflickorna som blir sexuellt trakasserade varje dag.
    ”Jag önskar dig lyckan att få lämna det gamla och hitta en ny början”

    Ta hand om Dig väl och var stark som alltid.

    Många kramar från oss alla i familjen,
    Mamma & Co

  2. Anki Says:
    December 26th, 2007 at 11:10 pm

    My dear son Per – Mr. Erik,
    You have now been in Bangladesh nearly three months and are feeling settled, BUT each minute you are thinking HOW can I help these street children I meet every day? You and the organisation SHISHU TORI SANGSTHA- STS are working hard on trying to open up a Rehabilitation Center for about 50-70 street children, so they can start to get a decent life. All of us how have followed your life in Bangladesh think it is so far away from our life under which circumstances the street children live, BUT of course we would like to contribute whatever we think we can. That’s why I have opened an account in SE-banken at Laholm, so everybody who has any feeling about these street children can contribute from one dollar and up.

    The account holder is: Street Girls Rehab. Center
    The account No is: 5622-00 321 52,
    SE-Banken,Laholm

    To make it easy I have the attorney for this account as well as my parents. The reason is that we in the family will stand for all the bank costs, the Swedish and the foreign costs. You, as well as the people how know us, know that we will not take one penny or ore from this account to ourselves. When there is a few thousands Swedish Crowns we will send it to Shishu Tori Sangstha’s account in Dhaka. The reason why I have opened this special account is that everybody who will contribute just a little has the possibility without to spend anything for the bank costs. All contribution is very welcome, from one dollar and up. You know the proverb: “all small creeks turn to a big river”.

    To dream about a better future
    Can everybody do,
    But it requires co-operation of many
    To realize it
    (Anne Sward)

    There is also a thoughtful poem which is written by Pam Brown and I think that is one of many thoughts the street children have:

    I wish you the chance to be able to leave the past
    And find a new start in your life

    Now we have the Christmas celebration, BUT I believe it is very important to think about the value of our lives. When you have made any effort to help other people to get a decent life you are feeling very rich. I hope that everybody who read your diary put themselves in a comfortable sofa or a chair thinking about how privileged we at this side of the world are.

    We understand that the people around you appreciate your efforts. That your female executive Mrs. Nilufar will show you some places in Kolkata (Calccutta) when she goes there with her family on vacation tells a lot. We wish you all a pleasant and restful stay and when you return in the beginning of January you both have new energy. At that time there will at least be a certain amount for the Street Girls Rehab. Center. We will then go on and send some money as long as there is anything on the account.
    Take care and be strong as always, BUT please do not kill yourself with helping other people.

    Lots of love and hugs from us all in your family,
    Mamma & Co

  3. mattis spansk Says:
    December 31st, 2007 at 2:01 am

    well mr torkelson…
    as always very intersting to read u´r diary.

    and anki, a very nice initiative on u´r behalf!

    take care u all

  4. Ola Says:
    January 2nd, 2008 at 10:20 am

    GOTT NYTT AR Per!

    Keep up the good work!

    //Ola

  5. Reefat Imam Says:
    January 5th, 2008 at 2:23 am

    Hej Per!

    It is really nice to read your posts. I was searching on good old google to find blog write ups on Bangladesh, my country from a Swede’s point of you so that i can refer it to my boyfriend who happens to be a Norwegian-Swede himself. And here you are with really interesting posts :-) I’ll sure refer it to him.

    I am very happy that you are doing such a good work here and enjoying your stay.

    It doesn’t seem that you are in contact with many Swedish people here, right? I bumped into a few Scandinavians here(Norweigian actually) who are working for the YWCA.

    With best regards,

    Reefat
    Dhaka

  6. Mabrur Ahmed Says:
    January 14th, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    Erik,

    It was really great meeting with you in Dhaka. Restless Beings will hold a board meeting this week, and I am confident that we will be working together in the future. Pass on my regards to forhad, nilufar etc.

    Speak soon

  7. Forhad Hossain, Shishu Tori Sangstha Says:
    July 13th, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    Hi Dear Erik,
    Greetings Shishu Tori Sangstha. I hope you are well and fine in Napel. I am wishing you working for the ICRI-Nepal.
    You worked with Shishu Tori Sangstha. It was October-March 2008 (Working for street children in Bangladesh Contact:E-mail:shishutori_sts@ailonline.net)that time you were doing very excellent job for street children. The children of Shishu Tori love you for your helping, they are glad to know that you are trying to help them for building Rehabilitation Shelter in Kamalapur Railway station, Dhaka especially for street girls. I met lots of volunteers of last 15 years but you were completely different from others. We never forget you for helping Shishu Tori. Shishu Tori Sangstha believes that you are best friend Shishu Tori Sangstha, who wants to believe that street children will recover their painful live from streets.

    Best wishes,
    Forhad Hossain()

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