For the last 10 months, life is not the same for
Bangladesh Cricket Board groundsman Anisur Rahman Arzu.
Ever since his youngest son Abu Saeed developed a tumour on his neck, Arzu had to abandon all his regular works and rush to hospitals and clinics once or twice every week for dozens of medical tests just to find out what really has happened to his beloved kid.
On May 28, the doctors at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University gave him the ultimate news that Saeed has been diagnosed with hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer originating from white blood cells.
The news came as a shock to Arzu, who already became poor meeting the treatment cost of his son.
Arzu said he often faces difficulties holding back his tears when he looks at the boy, who is supposed to be in school but is rather lying in bed and appearing dejected all the time.
It is not just the grim face of his son that has made Arzu depressed. The money that is required immediately for treatment has almost driven the poor BCB groundsman totally mad.
‘In the last 10 months I had to spend nearly Tk 1,30,000, borrowing from relatives and by selling a piece of land in Jamalpur,’ a depressed Arzu told New Age on Friday.
‘I get Tk 6,800 every month, which is too little for a family of four members. Right now Saeed has to be given a total of 12 chemotherapies and every chemo costs Tk 8,000.
‘I don’t have any clue how to gather this huge amount of money,’ said Arzu, who is currently deployed by the BCB at the Mirpur City College field.
The posh BCB office, where one sometimes feel coming to Switzerland because of its riches, is not too far away from Arzu’s workplace, the City College field.
But his plea for help is yet to reach the luxurious office.
Some officials donated some money personally, but Arzu said it is very insignificant. Arzu applied for some money from the BCB’s group insurance, but he was told the insurance company will only pay if someone is admitted to hospital.
Arzu was denied any assistance further as the BCB’s long-planned welfare fund is yet to gather any shape. An official said on Friday the plan of the welfare fund remained stalled as there is no elected committee at the BCB.
‘We needed to form a trustee board for a welfare fund. Since the BCB is being run
by ad-hoc committee, it was decided that it will have to wait for the election before forming the trustee board,’ said BCB’s acting chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury.
Chowdhury added that they are yet to receive any application from Arzu.
‘We are still helping some people on humanitarian grounds. If he [Arzu] applies, I am sure the board will consider it.’
-With New Age input
