The second day of Eid-ul-Adha 2012, Madaripur. Mehedi Shamim and I were walking in a whole moon evening at the bank of Arial Kha river. We had a long discussion, and the topic was how could we do something for the betterment of Madaripur. We discussed many ideas, but engaging youth in social development/ social work was at the top. We’ve walked almost for 3 hours and decided to figure out how to engage youth in social work in the next few days.
The last quarter of 2012. We shared the plan with three seniors, Asaduzzaman Nur, Jony Khan, and Dr. K. R. Ahmed (Rifat). They told us that they have the same moto and could not start because of some other factors. Then we said, let’s do it together and now.
After that initial discussion, we had several talks about this in Madaripur and Dhaka. We shared the ideas in our circles and, by this time, we developed a common group of us. The number was pretty good. Around 20 people agreed to start working for social development in Madaripur.
We called a meeting in Ramadan 2013 in TSC Dhaka University area. Yes, that was the first formal meeting to move ahead. We’ve decided that we will do something in the coming Eid-ul-Fitr in Madaripr. And later on, we have decided that we will offer new dress among poor people before Eid. As most of us live out of Madaripur (90% of that 20), the day should be before Eid Day to distribute new dresses among children.
Now the question is, what would be the name of our club and the upcoming initiative. We requested all to propose names/ ideas. We did not form any formal executive committee in the initial days.
Just before a few days of Eid-ul-Fitr 2013, we have decided that the name of our club will be “Madaripur Social Service Club (MSSC)”. My friend Syed Mohibul Hasan Mitul proposed this name, and we all choose this. Jony Khan proposed the tagline: “Build social relationship and stay alive” And I suggested the name for the initiative of offering new dresses among poor children would be “Project Natun Jama”. We all agreed on-
Club Name: Madaripur Social Service Club (MSSC)
Tagline: Build Social relationships and stay alive
First Project: “Project Natun Jama”
We collected donations from interested members, family, and friends for Project Natun Jama. We have finalised the name list of children before a couple of days of Eid and purchased dresses from Puran Bazar Faruki Store and some other shops as per the measurements. Prepared the banner for Project Natun Jama from Srijoni Art (Tushar) near Milon Cinema Hall. Just before a couple of days of Eid, I spent a whole night developing the logo of MSSC. I sketch a logo, then Tushar gave the final shape. I proposed to the team, and all agreed to go with the logo. MSSC still (25 July 2021) carry that logo. I created a Facebook page back in 2011 by the name of Madaripur 7900, and later on, I changed that to Madaripur Social Service Club-MSSC before we start our first project.
On 08 August 2013, we organised the first project of the Madaripur Social Service Club, which is “Project Natun Jama” in Sadhinota Angan, Lakepar, Madaripur. We handed over new dresses among 23 children in the first phase of Project Natun Jama.
This is how Madaripur Social Service Club (MSSC) came into the context, and Project Natun Jama kicked off. After completing Project Natun Jama Phase-1, we all have decided to continue this initiative every Eid.
I have continued with Madaripur Social Service Club till 2018, and we have been able to organise 10 phases of Project Natun Jama by that time. We handed over new dresses among 1,229 children in Madaripur through this initiative till that time.
The birth of Project Natum Jama and Madaripur Social Service Club was so emotional. I have hundreds of memories of these initiatives. This project was very special to us and will be a significant one in future. I will be proud and inspired to see the 50th phase of Project Natun Jama ahead.
–ISTIAQUE AHMED SHAWON,
Co-Founder (2013-18) and Ex-President (2018) of Madaripur Social Service Club (MSSC)
