<i>Boi Mela: Opportunity to save a life </i>
A man donates blood at a voluntary blood donation camp set up by Transfusion Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University before Bangla Academy premises yesterday.Photo: STAR
It was a short, sharp prick, relatively pain free. A short conversation followed and the procedure was over. This is the way how a restorative fruit juice sipping visitor at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, Bikarun Nessa Tanzu, described the way she donated blood before the Bangla Academy premises yesterday. An honours student of Bangladesh Islamic University, Tanzu said, “I feel as if I did something today, something for mankind. I feel excited.” Five voluntary blood donation camps were set up at the premises. They belonged to Transfusion Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Police Blood Bank of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Red Crescent Blood Centre, Dhaka Medical Unit of Dhaka South and Quantum Foundation. “I wanted to donate blood but did not get a chance. I could not miss the opportunity when I came visiting the Boi Mela this time,” added Tanzu, hoping that her blood would be able to save a life. A first timer, both at the fair and at blood donation, Mohammad Sukkur, was there too. The Keraniganj businessman said, “This donation will do me no harm but surely come to the aid of someone who needs it.” Sheikh Mohammad Foisal, co-ordinator of Blood Programme of Quantum Foundation, said with 1,200 bags of blood collected since the fair's inauguration, the response was good. Donors get a “donor card” allowing him or her to get free blood when they themselves need it. They also get a free blood screening on HIV, Hepatitis B and C, malaria and syphilis, he added. Assistant Sub Inspector of Police Siddiqul Islam, tending to donors at Police Blood Bank, said people, irrespective of age, do come forward when they realise the necessity and shortage of blood. He smiles and mentions 19 teenagers from Cambrian College who came to donate blood and kept on cracking jokes on the snacks that should be offered after the donation. Yesterday the fair was jam-packed with scores of visitors taking advantage of the day being Friday, a weekend. Thousands waited patiently in long queues before the gates opened in the morning. In the afternoon, the queues reached up to the fine arts faculty at one end and Doel Chattar on the other. The premises were also exclusively reserved for children from 11:00am to 3:00pm, termed Shishu Prohor (children's hour) by the academy authority to encourage guardians into acquainting budding minds with books and the habit of reading. The first Shishu Prohor was held on Friday. Youngsters arrived with their guardians and were seen enjoying the atmosphere, going through the books available and trying to decide on which one they wanted. Booksellers too spent a busy day struggling to cope with the large number of customers. A total 219 new books hit the fair while a discussion, cultural programme and singing competition were also held yesterday.
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