When no one is left to care: Old-age home dreamt in London, built in Raozan
Amena Bashar Old Age Rehabilitation Centre has capacity to accommodate 250 residents
Muhammad Shah Alam, lived a life defined by sacrifice. As the eldest of four sisters and two brothers, he carried the burden of the family from a young age, leaving no room to build a home of his own.
From hard labour in Chawkbazar-Khatunganj markets to years of work in the Middle East, he married off his sisters and made his brothers self-reliant.
But at 79, when age finally weakened his body, there was no one left beside him.
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With the help of a friend, he found refuge in the Amena Bashar Old Age Rehabilitation Center in Raozan, Chattogram.
We are not just running an institution; we are trying to reconnect shattered dreams
Alam's story echoes through the corridors of the Amena Bashar, where many residents come from once-comfortable families. Some have children settled abroad, while others say their ageing parents gradually became unwanted in their own homes.
Currently, 15 men and 22 women live at the centre, situated along Kaptai Road in Raozan's Noapara Union. More than just a four-storey building, the facility has become a final refuge for many elderly people navigating the dusk of their lives.
The institution was founded in 2014 through the personal initiative of Md Shamsul Alam. It can accommodate up to 250 residents and provides free shelter for citizens aged 60 and above, regardless of religion or background.
"I consider them my own parents. Being able to care for them is a blessing for me. This work gives me both joy and pride," Alam told The Business Standard.
Recalling the inspiration behind the initiative, Alam said he was struck by what he witnessed during a visit to London: "I saw many elderly parents no longer living with their children. I had never imagined such a reality before, and it deeply surprised me."
He added, "Later, I began to think that one day our country could also face a similar situation. That thought inspired me to build a place like this, and eventually I turned that dream into reality."
None left to care
A resident of the centre, Satyajit Barua, also saw his life unravel. After losing both his children and separating from his wife, he was left alone before eventually finding his way to the shelter.
Once an architectural draftsman, Satyajit spent much of his life designing structures for others. But in old age, when his body could no longer support him, there was no one left beside him.
He found refuge at Amena Bashar. Here, Satyajit has discovered a different kind of family – strangers bound together by shared loneliness, loss and quiet resilience.
Residents must be physically able to perform basic tasks such as personal care and mobility. However, they pay nothing for accommodation or food. Daily meals include bread and vegetables in the morning, tea around 10am, and balanced lunches and dinners featuring lentils, chicken, fish or vegetables.
Beyond food and shelter, the centre also provides clothing, healthcare and full support during illness. Even in death, funeral or burial arrangements are carried out with dignity according to religious customs.
To combat loneliness, the centre provides newspapers, carrom, ludo, chess and a large television room. Each room houses six residents, with no social or religious division.
Founder Shamsul Alam remains personally involved beyond funding. He regularly visits on holidays, sits with residents, listens to their stories and oversees operations himself. For many, this presence is as important as the facility itself.
Pritham Kumar Dey, who manages accounts at the centre, told The Business Standard, "We are not just running an institution; we are trying to reconnect shattered dreams."
He further said the founder's personal commitment is rare. "We try to ensure that every resident feels they are not excluded from society, but part of a family. Every detail – from meals to healthcare and recreation – is carefully managed so that loneliness never takes hold," he said.
