Humanitarian initiative ‘Manobotar Deyal (wall of humanity)’ is yet to make an impact after three months due to lack of promotion and cynicism surrounding the whole effort.
The wall of humanity aims to provide underprivileged people with clothes that they can just take according to their needs.
Established in quite a few places across the country including six locations in Dhaka, the wall consists of a hanger where people can leave their unused clothing and those in need can pick them up as they see fit.
As noble as the idea is, many people are wary of contributing or making use of it, as the whole thing is shrouded in doubt.
A visit to few of the places showed that the clothes were messily scattered on the road, gathering dust. Locals said it’s doubtful whether people who actually took the initiatives actually visit the places.
Meanwhile, many elders said that they are wary of joining the cause as they do not have a clear idea about it.
‘Manobotar Dewal’ started its journey in 2015 at Magura. The Headmaster of Aarpara Primary School in Magura, Yeasmin Akhter started the initiative there.
“I believed that the children can learn their social responsibilities by giving away their extra clothing to other people,” she told Bangla Tribune.
A teacher in Kishoreganj’s Maksudpur High School, Tanzina Nazneen Misti learned of the initiative from Yeasmin Akhter during a training program and started her own wall of humanity at her school.
“The schools around mine have also undertaken it,” she said, adding that she plans to extend the cause to Kishorganj Sadar as well.
Meanwhile in Dhaka, these walls have been established in Mirpur, Bhashantek, Uttara, Mohakhali, Mohammadpur and Lalbagh.
“We took the initiative by ourselves,” said Saidur Rahman, who established the wall of humanity in Uttara.
He said that the idea was to put out clothing that we no longer use and during winter someone in need was bound to pick it up.
Rahman however, had to re-locate the wall, given that the first was taken down.
The cause was started somewhere in November, but is yet to receive adequate response.
“It can be a collective are based initiative,” Rahman said, adding that better promotion is a must for it to gain mass attention.
Meanwhile, a resident of Mirpur-2 said that the clothes are not picked up as frequently as they are deposited and the locals don’t join in because they do not know who is behind it and hoped that the cause was not a political one.