January 31, 2010

I spoke with Rakib this morning and Rakib informed me that he is attending medical college class 6 days a week. Class is going well and he said “my teachers are good and they try their level best to teach”.
Rakib informed me that Dr. Mohsin could not locate any bones for Rakib to use. I told him I would send him 15,000 taka ($220 U.S) tomorrow to buy bones. New bones cost 20,000 taka used bones cost 15,000 taka. To conserve the money we collected for him he agreed to buy used bones. Since the bones have been used by a previous student there may be some that are broken or missing.
Rakib’s teacher still could not tell him when hostel space may be available in the on campus student hostel. He is still living in the hostel that is one and a half hours from the college and commuting by rickshaw and bus every day. Rakib and three other students found an apartment in a private house near the college. The cost is high, 20,000 taka per month, (5,000tk each) and there would be no one to cook for them so they would have high food costs in addition to the rent. The house would also require a security deposit and the first month rent in advance. Rakib asked what he should do. I told him I knew
the commuting time was taking away from his study time but, I thought he should stay where he was for the next month and hope that space at the student hostel opens up next month. He agreed.
I asked Rakib what his plans were for after he becomes a doctor. I asked if he would try to help the poor people in Bangladesh who do not have access to medical attention. Rakib told me he would like to help not only people in Bangladesh, but also poor people around the world. He said that in Bangladesh only wealthy people have access to good medical service. He said “I get a pain in my heart because poor people in need do not get medical care”. He informed me that he was upset that doctors and hospitals charge 300 taka for a lab test that costs them just 6 to 8 taka. In the rural area of Bangladesh lab tests are simply not available at all.
Rakib extended best wishes for the Scouts and their families and said he would pray that God will watch over them.