Shochetonotar Feriwala: A sliver of hope for spreading social awareness

Sayeed Rimon, also known as 'Shochetonotar Feriwala', has been raising awareness about different social issues for the last 12 years.

He started his Facebook page in 2010, posting awareness posters, pamphlets, videos, and pictures to convey important messages about issues such as mugging, pick-pocketing, and road safety among others. His posts have grown quite popular since his page's inception. Police forces in Barishal, Natore, and Barguna, among other districts, have used pictures from his page in their awareness campaigns and billboards. Rimon has nearly 700 social awareness pictures on his page.

 "Initially, I went around my hometown Barguna, requesting cable providers and mobile service providers to air my videos locally or install them into people's phones," he recalls. A graduate of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Rimon is a textile engineer by profession.  Currently, he is the CEO of OSN Sourcing and an adjunct faculty member at the Department of Textile Engineering, Northern University.  "My father used to help people open small savings accounts. He inspired me to work on social causes," adds Rimon, who received a letter of commendation from Barguna Police as well. He has become a familiar face in buses, train stations, schools, and other public places.

Sayeed Rimon raises awareness about issues such as mugging, pick-pocketing, and road safety, with his posters, pictures, pamphlets, and videos. Photos: Courtesy

However, most of Rimon's videos and posters feature him as a model, which has often led to distress for him.  "I have been publicly mistaken multiple times," he says. "I once earned some money while dressed as a beggar, but I have also been brutally beaten while portraying a mugger for an awareness project."

Since the start of the pandemic, his efforts to help people have only increased. "My wife and I distributed 35 boxes of home-cooked meals everyday initially. As more and more people came across our Facebook posts, they wanted to contribute as well," he shares. Till date, Rimon and his wife have ensured proper meals for over 1,500 people around them.

Rimon started his initiative, Gosto Tokai, last year during Eid-ul-Azha. "I travelled via a CNG-run autorickshaw, collecting contributions from my supporters, which fed nearly 1,000 people," mentions Rimon. Through this initiative, he distributed 600 food boxes on this Eid-ul-Azha.  He has also been distributing masks and hand sanitisers in different areas.

He hopes to continue supporting people in need through his initiatives, moving forward. 

The author is a freelance journalist. Email: akhlakurrahmancharles@gmail.com.