This story is from June 5, 2021

Borders blur as Balurghat boy delivers life-saving drugs for FB pal’s mom in Dhaka

For millions of Bengalis on either side of the India-Bangladesh border, the dividing fence evokes as many sentiments. But, for college teacher Saikat Morshed, it never caused as much agony as it did over the past month.
Borders blur as Balurghat boy delivers life-saving drugs for FB pal’s mom in Dhaka
Representative image
MALDA: For millions of Bengalis on either side of the India-Bangladesh border, the dividing fence evokes as many sentiments. But, for college teacher Saikat Morshed, it never caused as much agony as it did over the past month.
Morshed, like most Bangladeshis, depends largely on Kolkata for medical facilities. His anxiety knew no bounds when he realised that some lifesaving drugs for his ailing mother were unavailable in Bangladesh and that enhanced restrictions wouldn’t allow him to cross the border.
Luckily for him, a Facebook pal played good Samaritan and took the trouble to ensure he got what he needed to save his mother.
Saleha Khatun (66) has heart problems. Last December, Morshed brought her to a private hospital off EM Bypass in Kolkata. The consulting physician prescribed some drugs, which Morshed bought before leaving the city. Saleha was due for a review by the same doctor this April, but the Covid second wave and following restrictions imposed by both countries made travel impossible.
Morshed’s worst nightmare came true when the prescribed drugs went out of stock in Bangladesh. Frustrated, he posted a message on social media, which drew the attention of Balurghat resident Tuhin Subhra Mandal. Also a teacher by profession, Mandal has many friends in Bangladesh. He contacted Morshed and asked for the prescription.
The drugs were bought at Balurghat and Malda, after which Mandal contacted immigration officers and BSF. “It was not very difficult to convince them of the situation and they agreed to help me help Morshed,” Mandal said.
According to plan, Mandal reached the Indo-Bangla border at Hili on Thursday. Morshed too reached the other side of the border from his Dhaka residence. The Border Guard of Bangaldesh (BGB) was contacted by BSF and the former agreed at once to aid delivery of the medicines. During the handover, Mandal and Morshed managed to exchange pleasantries across the fence.
“The country was divided in 1947, but Tuhin bhai today proved that our bond wasn’t. I can’t express my gratitude enough,” Morshed said. Mandal echoed similar sentiments and added: “We could have done nothing had the BSF and BGB not been so helpful.”
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