Help is on the way

Srijon Roy, a resident of Chattogram's Jamal Khan Road, was in a rush to deliver some emergency medicine to his ailing mother on Tuesday. This meant he would have to scour for vehicles amid the transport shutdown, to reach his village home in Hathazari's Nandir Hat.

Fighting through the situation, he managed to hire a rickshaw and reach Muradpur intersection, but ultimately, couldn't find the next vehicle that would take him to the village.

Then he remembered. One Kamrujjaman had made a Facebook post, offering to transport people in emergencies to their destinations on his motorbike.

Srijon quickly found Kamrujjaman's number and made a call, asking for help. In 10 minutes, Kamrujjaman was present at Muradpur, cordially inviting Srijon to hop on the bike.

"I was in big trouble. I couldn't find any vehicle to go home," Srijon told The Daily Star. "I want to salute Kamrujjaman for this noble deed."

"I've come to know that he voluntarily helps patients, their attendants, and blood donors by taking them to hospitals," Srijon added.

Kamrujjaman, however, doesn't think of himself as a hero. An employee of an import company in the city, he has been involved in social activities since school days.

Talking to The Daily Star, Kamrujjaman, who resides in the city's Oxygen Shitol Jharna area, said when the shutdown started in late March, common people started to suffer, some for lack of food, others for transport issues.

"I wanted to stand by those who are suffering. But how? I'm not from a well-off

family, so I can't provide relief or financial assistance," he said.

"Then I figured I have two things to help the people with -- my blood and my bike," he explained. "So, I decided to donate blood, and use my bike to carry patients to hospitals and people in trouble to their destinations."

"I proclaimed my motive on Facebook on April 4," he said. "From then on, many people call me every day, and I try to help them as best as I can."

Like Srijon, many received Kamrujjaman's service in the last month. One of them, Abdul Mannan, a resident of Fatikchhari upazila, couldn't have reached home on Friday if he didn't notice Kamrujjaman standing beside his motorbike at the city's Oxygen intersection.

"I was so frustrated; I didn't know what to do. But then I noticed Kamrujjaman," said Mannan. "I approached him, and he rushed me to my home in Fatikchhari."

"Many ask me to carry their valuables, including cash and documents, to their relatives in villages. I feel humbled to be of service," Kamrujjaman said.

"When I started, my family was worried about my safety, as carrying people on my bike without wearing proper safety gear is risky," he said.

"Fortunately, after getting to know about my activities, Officer-in-Charge of Pahartali Police Station Mainur Rahman gifted me a set of personal protective equipment," he added.

Contacted, OC Mainur said what Kamrujjaman was doing is very noble.

"By taking patients to hospitals, Kamrujjaman is putting himself at risk... But he took that well into account and is still helping others, for humanity's sake."

"This can be a great example for others," the officer said.

Kamrujjaman said it's the duty of every person to stand by others in difficult times. "If we all care for others, our society will surely become more empathetic and humane."