Let kindness ripple around

You don't pay back a favour; instead, you help someone else who in turn favours another person -- this is the moto of Facebook group “Pay It Forward Bangladesh”.

As the name suggests, people in this group help out others not to get anything in return but to create a ripple effect of kindness. “The recipient [of help] must also help others as they overcome their crisis,” said Syed Mohammad Abu Daud, the founder of the group.

Daud, popularly known as Badal Syed, joined the civil Service in 1994 and now works as a commissioner for Sylhet tax zone.

In 2001, Badal and some of his friends helped out an eighth-grader Syed Mohammad Sadat who was struggling to continue schooling due to financial constraints.

When assisting Sadat, Badal and his friends did not imagine that this boy, who was on the verge of dropping out, would not only graduate from the University of Dhaka, but also become a deputy director at the Bangladesh Bank.

Soon Badal's platform grew stronger and bigger and they opened the Facebook page in 2016 with the concept “Pay it Forward” popularised by American philanthropist Benjamin Franklin.

“This chain of helping out each other will bring big changes in society,” Badal said.

The Facebook page now has 25,000 members. Students facing financial difficulties can post in the page describing their situation. Other members of the group then come forward to help.

“This is how the group functions. The members lend their hands in the hope that the recipient would act similarly once stable,” said Badal.

“A student needs to post relevant certificates and identity cards. Then we, the members, verify them through relevant authorities. Then anyone can help the student out as a one-time donor or as a sponsor for a period.”

The admin of the page is responsible for preserving the documents and keeping track of the progress of both the recipient and the donor.

Md Daud Nabi, a Master's student at Chittagong University, shared how he once needed Tk 250,000 for a medical emergency. He was a first-year student of finance at the university then.

“I heard about this platform and contacted Syed sir. They not only helped me in my treatment, but also helped me to continue my education,” he told The Daily Star recently.

Daud is now helping others with the money he earns from private tuitions. With some of his friends, he arranged temporary accommodation and meals for a number of admission seekers during the latest Chittagong University entry test.

“The Facebook-based group solves three problems a day. Its members spent Tk 1.40 crore between July 2016 and August 2018 on people,” said Badal, adding, “The society has given us a lot. Now it's our turn to contribute. Let's spread kindness.”

In the period specified, the group is said to have helped over 200 people.