Probin Nibash, old home located at Dhaka’s Agargaon houses 45 elderly people who earnestly wait for a visit from their loved ones on the occasion of Eid.

Most of them are spending the festive day alone as the families of only a few visit them.

A social welfare ministry registered institution, the home has the capacity to accommodate 50 residents. The place come furnished with a prayer room, library, sitting room and other facilities including ambulances for emergencies.

The residents each have to pay Tk 5,000 as living expense and an additional Tk 2,800 to 3,000 for food.

Bangladesh Association for the Aged and Institute of Geriatric Medicine (BAAIGM) popularly known as Probin Hitoishi Sangha runs the place. They also provide the support staff that is responsible for giving care to the residents.

Afsar Ahmed (pseudonym) has been living at Probin Nibash since his wife died two years ago. Although he lived alone with the relatives helping him at first, he couldn’t continue it for long. With no one to look after him, he decided to live here.

Although there are 45 residents, only three of them had visitors during the festive occasion of Eid on Wednesday (Jun 5).

According to security in-charge Humayun Kabir, a son visited him mother in the morning. Then a daughter visited her mother and two people were there to visit a resident who was ill. The rest spent the day meant for family and friends by themselves.

“Some people living here have kids who live abroad. Then there are some who can’t adjust with their families,” said Probin Hitoishi Sangha Deputy Director Badrul Ahsan.

He said that various kinds of people make their homes there but there are no couples there.

“They are given food of their choice on special days,” Ahsan said and added that they try to provide free medical care at their hospitals.

“However, if they need extra medical care then they themselves have to bear the cost at the hospital of their choosing.” 

Ahsan said that the residents are able to go out as they please as long as they leave the address and phone number of their destination with the authorities.

“It helps us keep track of them,” he said and adding that those who work there don’t see it as just a regular job.

“We keep in touch with them out of our own volition. We talk to them and form personal connections,” he said.