Community initiative feeds hundreds of underprivileged people in Cumilla every Friday
Photo Collected
DAUDKANDI, Bangladesh — Hundreds of people, ranging from day laborers and street children to the elderly and the disabled, gather every Friday in an open space adjacent to the Baitun Nur Jame Mosque in Gouripur Bazar of Comilla’s Daudkandi Upazila. What began as a modest effort has evolved into a lifeline for over 300 vulnerable individuals who rely on the gathering for a nutritious, hot meal.
Known as the “Pot of Humanity,” this weekly food distribution program is organized by the Jonoadhikar Kalyan Society. For the past four years, the group has provided meals consisting of rice, lentils, vegetables, and meat, often accompanied by desserts. On a recent Friday, volunteers were seen meticulously serving attendees, offering additional portions to anyone requesting a second helping.
The meal that day was sponsored by Jewel Molla, a Netherlands-based expatriate from Ziarkandi village in Titas Upazila. Molla funded the approximately 60,000 taka event in memory of his late mother. “I wanted to do something in my mother’s memory,” Molla said. “Seeing the satisfied smiles on the faces of so many people has brought me a sense of peace I have never felt before.”
The initiative was launched by society president Aman Bhuiya and treasurer Bahar Uddin on the first Friday of May 2022. What started as an informal effort among a few friends transformed into a formal organization with 26 active members. While the group often receives donations from families looking to honor deceased relatives or mark special occasions, the members cover the costs themselves whenever external funding falls short.
“We prioritize this event above all other work every Friday,” said Kutub Uddin, the society’s general secretary. “The mental peace found in feeding others is our greatest reward.”
For beneficiaries, the program provides both sustenance and dignity. Eighty-year-old Saherban Bibi, who travels from Titas every Friday, noted that she is treated with respect here, unlike other places where she is often turned away. Similarly, Mamun Islam, a child with disabilities, expressed gratitude for the quality of the food provided, while local widow Mafela Begum and resident Montaz Hossain shared that the environment makes them feel as though they are attending a festive banquet.
While rising commodity prices have made maintaining the program increasingly challenging, the organizers remain committed to its continuity. Local residents and religious leaders have lauded the effort, describing it as a form of “Sadaqah Jariyah,” or ongoing charity. As the initiative enters its fifth year, the organizers hope that continued community support will ensure the program remains a consistent source of stability for those in need.
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