A young man named A P Palash has taken a unique initiative to keep the youths abstaining from cybercrime, criminal activities and drugs at Sreepur village in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah.
Palash, son of Abdul Aziz, is a resident of Sreepur village in the Mirzapur union of the upazila. Alongside his study at Jhenaidah Government KC College, he is also involved with digital marketing.
He had set up a physical training center in his own village with various abandoned materials during the closure of the educational institutions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Now, he inspired his friends to keep themselves fit by regular exercise.
The equipment for exercise is being made with various materials including bricks-sand, soil-cement, plastic pipes, discarded water bottles, tree branches and bamboo poles. With these, all the equipment of modern gym including dumbbells, barbells, pull-up bars, rope jumps are being made in different styles. With the help of the internet, a group of young people is making this heavy gym equipment without spending any money.
Palash, the entrepreneur of this exceptional gymnasium, told Dhaka Post, Dr. Jahangir Kabir inspired me to establish the gymnasium as I lose around 30 kg weight, from 92 kg to 62 kg, following his suggestion. Besides, New York expatriate Fatema Nazneen Pricilla regularly encouraged me for my activities in the gymnasium.
He added that it is not possible for rural people to go to the gym for regular exercise. So we made the equipment with discarded materials. With these, youths of the village has been exercising regularly for almost two years. Now 20 youths exercise here every day.
Palash further said that I want everyone to exercise instead of being addicted to YouTube, Facebook and other social media platforms. If the youths exercise regularly, they will not be able to get involved in criminal activities including drugs.
Shabuj, a regular face in the gym, told Dhaka Post that he used to spend his time at home with his mobile phone during the closure of his college amid the coronavirus pandemic. I contacted Palash after knowing about his physical training center. He asked me to go there. Since then I reduced my body weight through regular exercise.
“I applaud his initiative,” he said. If there is such a physical training center in every village, the youth will be able to stay away from various crimes.
Sabu Biswas and Tariqul Islam of Sreepur village told Dhaka Post that Palash is an entrepreneur. He is trying his best to unite the youth of our village and motivate them towards the gym. Under his initiative, the youth of the village are now interested in the gym. Those who used to make Tik-Tok videos, used to play video games on the phone at different times, are now busy with physical exercises.
Md Nazrul Islam, union parishad member of Mirzapur, told Dhaka Post that a gymnasium has been set up in Sreepur village under the supervision of Palash. The young boys of the village are doing regular exercises there. Teenagers and youths are refraining from mobile-internet. If the rich people of the country extend a helping hand, these tasks will be easier for them.
Shailkupa Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kaniz Fatema Liza told Dhaka Post that the initiative taken by Palash is really commendable. His initiative will bring back the mental and physical well-being of the youths.
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