Amid the Eid vacations, a Jahangirnagar University based animal welfare organisation, Pother Pran, is actively working to feed and care for the stray animals on campus.
The organisation, founded by a group of passionate volunteers, is dedicated to the welfare of animals on campus and surrounding areas. They provide food, medical care and shelter to stray animals. During the Eid vacations, when most of the students and staff are away, Pother Pran has amped up its efforts to ensure the animals do not go hungry.
The Eid vacations for students at Jahangirnagar University began on 1 April and since then, the volunteers at Pother Pran have been working tirelessly to ensure the strays are well-fed. They have been collecting funds, preparing and distributing the food to help the cats and dogs sustain in an empty campus. And they plan to continue till the campus reopens.
Most of the stray animals rely on the food given to them by the students or the staff. During the vacations, when the once lively campus is almost empty, the animals there were left to starve, which initiated Pother Pran’s effort to start providing food for the forgotten.
“We’re simply giving back the love. These animals have motivated countless students to keep going on. We’re just providing them with what they deserve” says one of the leading volunteers from the organisation, Farzana Shawon.
Apart from their recent initiatives, Pother Pran has been dedicated to rescue and help find shelter to the injured animals on campus. They have successfully helped rehabilitate over a hundred of animals. Acknowledging their efforts, Lulu Marzan Dina, a volunteer for the organisation says, “Humans can express their discomfort, pain and hunger. But these creatures can’t. They unnecessarily face abuse and starvation. They are misjudged. Pother Pran is trying to be the voice of these voiceless creatures. But our biggest drawback is lack of volunteers. For a very small team we work really hard, which is taking a toll on us. Along with funds we need more active members to carry on.”
A former student and a current mentor of the team, Rahat Sarkar stated, “Our work does not stop even through there’s a manpower and financial crisis. But with proper support, we can change the lives of many more animals.”
Pother Pran is a shining example of compassion and kindness towards animals. Their work is a testament to the university’s commitment to environmental conservation. They are a lifeline for the stray animals on campus and a source of inspiration for the university community.