JAAGO Foundation, Volunteer for Bangladesh organise mask awareness campaign

Volunteer for Bangladesh, the youth wing of JAAGO Foundation, arranged a campaign called "Apnar Mask Kothay? (Where is your mask?)" on Thursday to inspire people to wear masks and raise awareness about their proper use.

Volunteers participated in this campaign from their respective districts, and they raised mass awareness by taking to the streets, said a press release from the JAAGO Foundation.  

Around 6,000 volunteers participated from eight divisions – Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Mymensingh. 

They discussed the ongoing coronavirus situation and led the awareness drive to promote the use of masks to reduce the spread of Covid-19. 

The young energetic volunteers made handmade posters and placards with slogans and awareness messages. This aroused the curiosity of bystanders, who stopped to inquire about the initiative. 

The public congratulated the organizers for their activities and encouraged them to continue running these campaigns. 

Mr Taskin Ahmed, a cricketer of Bangladesh national team, inaugurated the campaign at Gulshan 2. 

He said this campaign has come at a very crucial time in the current pandemic situation. He visited several campaign locations and encouraged the volunteers. 

In Dhaka, the campaign took place in Dhanmondi – in front of EMK center, Banani 11- Banani Police Outpost (Opposite of Kamal Ataturk Avenue), Mirpur 10 Circle, Agargaon- IDB Bhaban, Motijheel- Brothers Union Club Playground, and Gulshan - 2 Circle. 

Korvi Rakshand, founder and executive director of JAAGO Foundation, said, "While people do use hand sanitisers, they are unwilling to wear masks because they are not used to them and are unaware of their importance."

He said JAAGO Foundation and Volunteer for Bangladesh have been running several awareness-raising campaigns since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"During the ongoing pandemic, we distributed food packets amongst thousands of underprivileged families. Now, via this mask campaign, we have tried to encourage people all over the country to wear their masks properly," he added.

The campaign was supported by Beximco Pharmaceuticals.