A restaurant-owner in Naogaon, Ali Ajgar, has been feeding the poor and distressed people for free on every Thursday for last Twenty years. As coming from a struggling background, he tries to feed the distressed for free. As a result, his reputation has been spread throughout the town as a friend of poor people.
Hotel owner Ali Ajgar is from Singra Upazila of Natore district. He owns the Hajji Nazipur Hotel and Biriani House adjacent to the Baludanga Bus Terminal.
Ali Ajgar said, “I had come through many struggles and obstacles. I had the chance to receive education till class eight. My father died when I was only fifteen.
As I had a big joint family, dispute among family members were very common. I had to move with my wife and newborn child in 1997 and settle in Naogaon.”
“I started working at a hotel (restaurant) and earned Taka 25 per day. After some years, the hotel owner suddenly wanted to shut his business. I urged him to give me the opportunity to run the business.
He gave the permission and I started running this restaurant. Now I have a stable business thanks to the relentless struggle I did for past 20 years”, he added.
More than 35 employees work at this restaurant, Ali said. He arranges food for three to four hundred distressed people on Thursday every week. He also feed beggars and other distressed people for free.
“My restaurant wears a festive look every Thursday”, he said.
Jahera Beua, a bagger from Naogaon town said, “My family can’t provide me a meal, so I come here every Thursday for a free meal. I am very satisfied with the food.”
Shefali Begum, another poor woman of the area, said that she has been coming at this restaurant for four years. Though she cannot manage a decent meal for the rest of the week, she can feed herself for free with good quality foods on Thursday.
Many people appreciated the initiative of Ali Ajgar and urged other businessmen to help the distressed people of the area.