Rubel pleads for selflessness
During this time period of crisis when depends upon is fighting the spread of coronavirus, the roles played by the country's footballers and cricketers have earned a whole lot of praise. Beginning with premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to footballer Jamal Bhuyian -- all of the players have come forward and made their contributions. Their contributions ranged from monetary help to awareness posts through Facebook and social media. Even a few well-off players came forward and stood by their less-fortunate fellow athletes and such an example was recently set by Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal when he took the duty of providing expenditure to the members of the family of the most effective teenage sprinter Samiul Islam.
However, among each one of these athletes who came forward in this crisis, Bangladesh pacer Rubel Hossain's activities grabbed most public attention. Rubel has been posting awareness messages on social media since COVID-19 was first detected in the united states. Apart from making monetary donations, the pacer also donated infrared thermometres in his hometown Bagerhat. For Rubel, who has also voiced his outrage against wrong doers publicly, cricket has now become secondary as his prime concern has been the country's condition and its own people's plight in this pandemic.
According to Rubel, two things ought to be addressed a lot more than anything now. Firstly, the need to provide food for the needy and next to that is the need to remain safe and conscious to greatly help curb the spread of the virus.
"Bangladesh is currently going right through a horrible situation. What must i say; I guess there is absolutely no other option than staying safe and conscious. We must stay in the home and also help the needy kinds as much as we are able to," opined Rubel during an interview over phone with The Daily Star.
Drawing through to the example of his hometown Bagerhat, the pacer further mentioned, "We don't have many COVID-19 cases inside our locality. But the key problem here is that there are numerous people who you live below the poverty line. And the ratio of such people is higher in the area I live. I own three buildings here and I have already asked the tenants never to worry about the rent till the situation is contained. I am trying my best to help the persons around me. I am also using social media to create people aware as lots of people follow us on Facebook."
Some undesired things are also troubling Rubel. The pacer is left worried and with immense grief as the kinds who must have come forward in taking care of the less fortunate ones a lot more than anyone else in the country are now the kinds who are stealing essential commodities that came in as relief for the needy people.
"I do not really know what to say about the types who are stealing essential commodities like rice, lentil and oil. Rather than helping others they are stealing government allocated reliefs. I just do not really know what to state about them. I think these sort of heinous activities have only made our heads bow down in shame," sighed Rubel.
A nationwide lockdown was already imposed as a result of coronavirus. And therefore, the income source for many people in addition has been halted. Rubel believes if steps aren't taken against such heinous acts, the situation will only worsen.
"The complete country is suffering, especially the needy ones. The needy kinds are unsure which will take their lives first, coronavirus or hunger? This thought might cause them to think differently which they usually do in such instances," Rubel said, issuing a warning to the nation.
However, even in the end that's happening, Rubel continues to be keeping his faith on the leaders of the country. Even he urged his countrymen to accomplish the same and have faith.
"We need to trust the administration, doctors, nurses and military personnel because they are the kinds who are fighting from the frontline. They will be the kinds who are taking the virus at once. Whereas we have hardly any to accomplish here," concluded Rubel.
