Travelling 4,000km every year to feed the destitute

Hasan Waris, an octogenarian Bangladeshi expatriate living in Kuwait, travels over 4,000km every year during Ramadan, just so he can feed the local impoverished iftar and sehri. 

Waris, 82, has been providing food for over one thousand people at his residence on Kazi Nazrul Islam Road, in Alkaran area of the port city for the last 39 years. His generosity is not limited to arranging iftar and sehri; Waris also provides new clothes for the underprivileged on the occasion of Eid.

Akhter Begum, a kitchen staff working at a hotel in Didar Market area, has been coming here with her daughter for the last 14 years during Ramadan.

“Mr. Waris serves us food here. Whatever happens -- bad weather or any other calamity -- one will find warm food here in Ramadan,” she said, adding that for many like her, it's an opportunity to save money because food prices soar during the month.

Maymuna Akhter Rabeya, a four year old, was seen having sehri with her mother. Asma, the mother who is disabled, is a beggar.

“There is no way I could provide good food for my daughter. I come here so that my daughter can eat to her heart's content,” Asma said.

Like Akhter Begum and Asma, people from different parts of the city come to Waris' residence every evening and late night for the meals since 1979.

There are cooks for preparing the meals during this time of the year. They have to cook for around 700 people on the early days of Ramadan; the number gradually reaches 3,000 at the end of the month, said Aminul Haque, the head chef.

“I will keep doing this till I die,” said the chef who had six assistants.

“The menu is simple. Rice, vegetables and protein [beef, fish or eggs go by rotation]. Right now, we need 60 kg rice, 50 kg vegetables, 750 eggs, 70 kg fish, and 50 kg beef,” said the chef.   

Twelve local youths are being appointed as volunteers to serve food and maintain the process.

One may wonder, why Waris started this endeavour and why he is still doing this.

Seating on a chair at a corner, Waris said, “I went through a lot of hardship when I was young. As I overcame all the obstacles and started doing well, my mother told me to stand beside the people who have nothing. I am just trying to do that, nothing more.”

He could not move much due to aching legs but seemed content.

Waris lives in Kuwait with his family and runs his businesses there with the assistance of his sons.

“I saw many who used to come here for meals. Now I see their sons and daughters, bringing their children with them,” said Waris.

After the 28th day of Ramadan, clothes will be given away. Each man will receive a lungi and a shirt, and each woman a sari, said Mujibul Haque, Waris' brother in law, also the caretaker of the residence.