Good samaritans help Bangladeshi boy to undergo heart surgery in TN

A 9-year old boy from Bangladesh has got a new lease of life after he successfully underwent heart surgery in Tamil Nadu amid the COVID-19 lockdown with the help of a Hindu friend of his uncle and several others nearby Vedaranyam town. Not only did N Rajasekar helped in arranging funds for the surgery for Mohammed Arif, son of poor farm laborers from Chattogram, he also gave shelter and food to the family members for nearly three months in view of COVID-19 lockdown after they came to be stranded in Vedaranyam.

During Ramzan month, he made arrangements for their fasting, with his gesture drawing praise on social media. "Earlier, my son couldn't even walk for a few meters. Now, he has become normal like other children. We enjoyed the hospitality of Rajasekar'sfamily," Mohsina Begum, mother of Arif, told reporters.

The boy underwent the surgery at a hospital in Coimbatore on May 16 and has since then recovered well and would be returning to Bangladeshonce flight services resume to the neighboring country, she said. Arif had been suffering from a congenital heart defect and required surgery. Since his parents were poor agricultural laborers, his maternal uncle Abdul Raheem, working in Oman, had sought the help of Rajasekar and he readily agreed to mobilize resources and arrange for the surgery.

Rajasekar, who had also worked in Oman, approached local industrialist Sultanul Arifa, who extended financial assistance for the surgery while others including social activist Rahmatullah and Deputy Superintendent of Police A. Safiyullah also chipped in.

The DSP helped in arranging logistics, including e-pass for travel to Coimbatore during the lockdown. "We can never forget the timely help of Rajasekar, Sultan ul Arifa, and others," Begum said.

Rajasekar's humanitarian gesture has gone viral on social media with many appreciating him for the timely help to a family belonging to a different religion and from another country.