A legacy worth remembering

Until yesterday, Mohammed Sumon was worried about how to move forward after losing six of his family members, including parents on June 13 landslides in Rangamati.

The landslides destroyed their house in Notun Para of Rangamati town and displaced him and his brother, who sustained injuries but survived the disaster.

His father Nabi Hossain, a driver by profession, saved most of his community people by alerting them about the landslides that claimed 120 lives in Rangamati.

Unfortunately, he could not save his family members and finally succumbed to injuries that he sustained in the landslides.

Yesterday, Mutual Trust Bank recognised his father's heroic acts and awarded Sumon and his brother with crests and a CNG-run three-wheeler.

Anis A Khan, managing director and CEO of the bank, said, "For the last four to five years, we have been giving such awards in recognition of someone's act of bravery.”

“Through this initiative, we try to inspire others to come forward…and stand by people,” he told The Daily Star after handing over the three-wheeler to Sumon and his brother at a programme at Chittagong Club. Senior officials of the bank were also present at the event.

Anis said The Daily Star report on Nabi Hossain published on June 19 under the title, “Tale of a hero who didn't just sit back” drove them to do something for the family.

He said the three-wheeler, costing about Tk 4 lakh, would be a source of income for them.

Sumon and his brother Mohammed Rubel expressed their gratitude to the bank and The Daily Star for standing beside them.

"I'm happy today. My father had a dream of having a three-wheeler of his own that I got for his bravery," said Sumon.

He said though his father was not alive, they will cherish his memory forever and the sacrifice he made for saving so many lives.

“We will try to live our lives following in our father's footsteps,” said the proud son.