24-year-old Asif Islam Abir, a student of Multimedia and Creative Technology at Daffodil International University and a freelance 3D artist, started the online based non-profit organisation called Jiboner Jonno Rokto in 2013. This organisation helps link up patients who require blood with healthy donors, mostly during urgency. Asif's brainchild project was founded when his intuitions urged him to address the nationwide crisis related to blood donation. There seems to be a social stigma surrounding the idea of donating blood, but fortunately it is gradually dissolving away, especially due to the motivational videos made by Jiboner Jonno Rokto to promote the cause. Asif's selfless effort to assist during dire situations helped save many lives.

With above 47,000 genuine members, the project's Facebook page remains active round the clock for citizens of Dhaka, Chattagram and Narsingdi currently, with plans to expand services nationally in the near future. Even though Asif's initiative was gaining momentum throughout social media, it was not until four years when his parents learnt about their son's humble efforts through a television show.

Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed

Jiboner Jonno Rokto makes a few queries to ensure the donors' eligibility. One can avail the service (as a donor or a recipient) with three different approaches either by calling the numbers provided or by messaging the page or by posting in the group which does not require any approval in order to save time during emergencies. Even though the team of Jiboner Jonno Rokto has such appropriate procedures in place, running the organisation comes with its nuisance. "There are certain people who pretend to be donors and contact the recipients requesting them to provide the transportation cost using mobile financial services," informs Asif. "Once the distressed victims make the transactions, the alleged donors then switch off their phones." For Asif, the heart-wrenching fact is that no matter how much they strive for betterment, negative acts such as this smears a shade of disappointment. Nevertheless, the team of Jiboner Jonno Rokto continues their work with utmost dedication for humanity.

Like the systole and diastole phases of the heart, Jiboner Jonno Rokto continues to pump their efforts into all the 'vessels' of society. In return, they find harmony in the fact that they are promoting the generous act of blood donation in order to save numerous lives. "Many of the donors have become a regular now, given the joyous state of mind they attain after donating blood. One donor ended up marrying the recipient as well!" exclaims Hosen Tarek, one of the eighteen full-time admins of the Jiboner Jonno Rokto Facebook page.

With a more diverse plan for the future to facilitate their cause and expand their services, Asif Islam Abir and his team are operating at full pace, despite all of them being students with busy lives.