Bangladesh's pandemic street kitchens

Many people don't have food in Bangladesh. But Mehmankhana is helping. Mehmankhana is a group. They give free food to people.

Last year, Covid-19 made Bangladesh close many businesses. Many people lost their jobs. But a lot of groups helped them. They gave people food, money and masks. But after 12 months there are few groups. And many people have no food.

Actress Asma Akhter Liza wanted to help street children. She started the street kitchen, Mehmankhana.

Asma Akhter Liza: "You can tell the adults that there is no food, but how can you say the same to little children? In the past one and a half years, these children who come here have become our family."

Every day, Mehmankhana feeds 2,500 people.

Because of Covid-19, many people in Bangladesh have no food or money. The government opened some factories again. But not everyone has a job.

Liza's brother lost his job. Now, he is a chef at Mehmankhana.

Eraz Mahmudi: "I lost my job as a maintenance engineer at a garment factory during the first wave of the pandemic. I was idly sitting at home when my sister Liza called me to join this humanitarian work. I rushed here to join the programme. And started working as soon as I arrived."

Some people were rich before Covid-19. Now, they go to Mehmankhana for free food too.

Mohammed Arif was a city bus driver.

Mohammad Arif: "This Mehmankhana is a blessing for people like us. At least we can eat without worrying for the next day. Before knowing about this place, I spent two days lying inside a parked bus, literally starving."

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