Sherpur UNO Saiduzzaman Himu Provides Food Assistance to Elderly Man Following Facebook Appeal

A Facebook post highlighting the plight of an elderly man struggling to feed his family has prompted a swift humanitarian response from the local administration in Sherpur upazila of Bogura.

Saiduzzaman Himu, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Sherpur, arranged emergency food assistance for 70-year-old Abdul Jabbar Mondal and his family after learning about their difficult circumstances through social media.

Jabbar, a resident of Sadhubari village in Shahbandegi Union, had reportedly been facing severe financial hardship, leaving his family struggling to afford basic meals for several days.

The family's situation came to public attention when local journalist Ayub Ali shared a Facebook post describing Jabbar's financial difficulties and appealing for assistance.

Upon seeing the post, UNO Saiduzzaman Himu promptly initiated steps to verify the information and arrange support for the family.

On Thursday (October 8), two packages of essential food supplies were delivered to Jabbar's residence at the UNO's initiative.

Each package contained 14 types of essential food items, including rice and lentils. According to those involved in the initiative, the supplies are expected to meet the family's basic food needs for approximately two months.

Overwhelmed by the unexpected assistance, Jabbar and his family expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the local administration.

"We had no food to eat and had almost lost hope. I never imagined that a senior government official would personally inquire about our situation and send us food," Jabbar said.

Local residents said the initiative reflected the UNO's commitment to addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities beyond his routine administrative responsibilities.

They noted that since assuming office in Sherpur, Himu had reportedly undertaken several initiatives to assist vulnerable residents, including responding to appeals for help shared on social media.

His efforts to address the difficulties faced by underprivileged people have earned him appreciation from sections of the local community, with some residents describing him as a compassionate administrative official.

Representatives of local civil society also welcomed the initiative, observing that timely responses to humanitarian needs could help strengthen public confidence in government institutions.

They further expressed hope that such actions would encourage financially capable individuals and community organisations to extend assistance to people experiencing hardship.

The incident highlights the potential of social media to bring urgent humanitarian concerns to the attention of public authorities and facilitate timely assistance for vulnerable families.