01/07/2005
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City businessman is a good samaritan - from Eurofoods
SHELIM Hussain, chairman and managing director of Newport - based Eurofoods, has just returned from helping flood victims in Bangladesh.
Millions were left stranded or homeless by floods, which hit the country in July last year.
Two - thirds of the country, and half of the capital Dhaka were left under water. According to the UN, an estimated 30 million people were affected accross Bangladesh, including farmland and property.
Many had to seek shelter in public buildings, motorways, rooftops and on high ground.
Shelim, originally from Bangladesh, visited 20 villages in the areas of Bhalijur and Balagonge in Sylhet where he gave away 50kg of rice and 2kg of lentils to each household.
He also handed out all the cash from his wallet, which totalled about £1,000, when he was unable to buy any more food quickly for the victims.
Between the investment in food and supplies and the cash donation, Shelim's gesture amounted to £10,000, which will go some way to making a difference to those affected by the floods.
Shelim said: "I wanted to help those who needed it. The country had been devastated by the floods and it's easy to sit and watch it happen from the comfort of our homes in the UK. I only managed to help a few villages but there are still thousands of people in Bangladesh who need our help and support, rebuilding their lives will take years to achieve."
