Helping, healing in silence

Charitable activities of Germania Trest Company (GTC), a hired company of Maddhapara Granite Mining company Limited (MGMCL), have appeared to be a gift for hundreds of people of two upazilas of Dinajpur and Rangpur, during the crisis period of Covid-19.

The miners and their brilliant children are also getting support.

Besides 50 foreign nationals, GTC has employed at least 600 local miners to explore the rock from underground.

MGMCL located in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur, is a company of state- owned Petrobangla, hired GTC in September 2013 through international bidding for the mine's production, development and management.

The production resumed on February 20, 2014.

Zabed Siddiqui, the Chief Executive of GTC, said besides commercial activities, his company has a commitment to stay beside the villagers who are taking care of the mine.

"It's a company of the villagers and GTC is here to keep running the wheel of financial activity under the supervision of MGMCL authority in the area", he said adding that many people gave their land to the mine.

The villagers too undergo much suffering for the mine, he said.

Since onset of Covid-19 pandemic in March last year, GTC extended its helping hands to the villagers and miners giving foods, pretty silently.

The company has been running a centre of charity in the mining area for the last two years.

The core values of this centres are to provide treatment facilities to the villagers, who are financially weaker in the society. Most of the beneficiaries come from Parbatipur and Mithapukur upazilas of Rangpur.

A doctor sees patients 5 days a week there without taking any fees. Medicines are also given at free of cost.

During a recent visit to the charitable centre, the correspondent found that people from various villages coming to receive treatment there.

Laily Begum, a woman of Bhagalpur village in the upazila, said that her husband Rafiqul Islam became unemployed after a road accident.

He could not earn a single penny for the last four months.

"The free treatment helps me a lot", she said.

Her husband is recovering gradually getting treatment here, she also said.

"I would have died if the centre had not been here", said Rafiqul Islam, adding that he is incapable to bear the cost of treatment. Like him, many people in the area are beneficiaries of the centre.

Masudur Rahman Shah, the chairman of Middle Harirampur union under Parbatipur upazila, said that the centre set up at the mine area is a blessing to several hundred impoverished villagers. People prefer getting treatment there as the Upazila health complexes in Parbatipur, Phulbari Upazila of Dinajpur and Mithapukur Health complex in Rangpur are far away.

"People of his area never got such help before", he said.

Apart from this support, GTC has been paying salaries of 13 teachers and staffers of Maddhapara Mohabidyalay in the upazila since they are not getting their salaries due to the pandemic situation.

Children of 52 miners have been getting monthly financial support to bear their educational expenses.