Badal Roy Shadin, Sandwip (Chittagong)

The Orphanage and Works House, which received the capitation grant from the Department of Social Services located in Ward No. 4 of Sandwip Municipality, was in a dilapidated state for many years.

The tin- shed house was destroyed and it became difficult for the orphans to live there. Knowing its condition, former UNO Khoshed Alam collected donations from some wealthy people and took the initiative to construct a new three-storey building. Since he could not complete the work due to his transfer, the current Upazila Executive Officer Regan Chakma took over the responsibility and collected some more funds.

On the occasion of its inauguration, a brief meeting was held at the orphanage premises on May 7 at 11 am.

After the meeting, UNO Regan Chakma inaugurated the work by cutting the soil.

The inaugural meeting was attended by Upazila BNP Member Secretary Alamgir Hossain Thakur, Krishi Bank Manager Akhtaruzzaman Sujan, Municipality BNP Member Secretary GS Abul Bashar, Sandwip Press Club General Secretary Md. Omar Faisal, Municipality BNP Joint Conveners Md. Nazim Uddin, Saifur Rahman Shamim, Md. Main Uddin, Zaker Hossain Bipul, Mahbubul Alam Shimul, Youth League Leader Shawkat Talukder, Ward 4 BNP General Secretary Akram Hasan, Sandwip Municipality Assistant Engineer Kaushik Barua Nihar, Deputy Assistant Engineer Mohammad Morshed Alam, Designer Rabiul Islam, Orphanage Superintendent Md. Kamrul Hasan and many other notables of the area.

It is mentioned that the founder and main patron of this orphanage and workhouse established in 1959 was the then First Class Magistrate Syed Jamanuddin Ahmed EPPS. This orphanage located in the old Sandwip Town was re-established in 1993 on the west side of Sandwip Municipality Market after the river erosion.

A total of 18 orphans receive remuneration in the said orphanage. They receive assistance including accommodation, examination fees, medical care and even SSC examination.

However, at one time, the students studying in this institution were made skilled in various technical knowledge including textile industry, sewing training. Many expenses of the students could be borne by selling the clothes they made. Currently, due to economic crisis and housing problems, the number of orphans admitted is decreasing at once and it has become difficult to bear the expenses.

In such a situation, UNO Rigyan Chakma and Orphanage Superintendent Md. Kamrul Hasan have sought the cooperation of wealthy people. If anyone wants to cooperate, they can send money to the account number 0826801026283 opened in the name of Orphanage Repair and Maintenance of Sonali Bank Sandwip branch. This bank account is being operated under the signatures of both of them.

They also suggested that if there are new helpless orphans, they should be admitted.