Missionary, Humanitarian, and Human Rights Worker Father Richard W. Timm, CSC, Dies

Father Richard W. Timm, CSC

Photo courtesy via Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh minister Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury

(left)givingAbu Sayeed Chowdhury Award

 for human rights to Father Richard W. Timm, CSC

Photo courtesy: the dailystar.net/

Father Richard William Timm, CSC (1923 - 2020), an American missionary priest, educator, humanitarian, and human rights worker in Bangladesh died of old-age complications in South Bend, Indiana, USA, on September 11. He was 97 years old. He worked in Bangladesh for 65 years. 

First, he came to Bangladesh in 1952 as a professor at St. Gregory's College (the precursor of Notre Dame College) and did further study and research on nematodes. He discovered a few unknown types of nematodes, one of which was named 'Timmia parva' (small Timmian worm) after him. 

Later he was the principal of Notre Dame College, served 1970-cyclone affected people in Monpura Island in the Bay of Bengal through a voluntary organization called 'HELP.' He also served the 1971 liberation war-affected people as the Planning Officer of the Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation (CORR), which later was renamed Caritas Bangladesh. 

He founded and became Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace in Bangladesh. Through this Commission, he worked relentlessly for the human rights of ordinary people in Bangladesh. 

Father Timm was also the author of several books. Among the books are -- a textbook on college biology (this book's name is not known to us now),  The Plant-Parasitic Nematodes of Thailand and The Philippines (SEATO: 1965), The Church and Development in Bangladesh (Dhaka: Caritas Bangladesh, 1994), On Building A Just Society (Dhaka: Caritas Bangladesh, 1994), Forty Years in Bangladesh: Memoirs of Father Timm (Dhaka: Caritas Bangladesh, 1995), History of Holy Cross Priests in Bangladesh Since Independence: 1971 - 2000 (Dhaka: Provincial, Holy Cross Fathers, 2000), and 150 Years of Holy Cross in East Bengal Mission (Dhaka: Congregation of Holy Cross, 2003). 

After being the only nematologist in Bangladesh, he, in the 1950s and 1960s, wrote over 70 scientific papers. 

He was the recipient of a number of honours and awards. Among these are The Abu Sayeed Chowdhury Award for human rights in Bangladesh, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For the Church and the Pope) award from Pope Paul VI (1978) for his service to the 1971 war-affected people of Bangladesh, the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1987), a medal from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace of the Vatican in recognition of his contribution to education, charity, justice, and peace in Bangladesh (2009), and honorary citizenship of Bangladesh from the government.

To know more on Father Richard W. Timm, CSC, please read the following:

• Friend of Bangladesh Father Richard William Timm passes away at 97 (Sept. 12, 2020)
• Father Richard William Timm, Magsaysay awardee and missionary to Bangladesh, dies at 97 (Sept. 12, 2020)
• Richard William Timm, CSC [his profile]
• From the Archives: Freedom fight by two missionaries [Father Eugene E. Homrich, CSC, and Father Richard W. Timm, CSC]
• A Discussion with Father Richard William Timm, Congregation of  Holy Cross (March 25, 2015)
• Obituary: Rev. Richard W. Timm, CSC (Sept. 11, 2020)
• Richard William Timm
• Reverend Richard W. Timm, CSC

Brother Ronald F. Drahozal, CSC, Is No More

Brother Ronald F. Drahozal, C.S.C., the pioneer of treatment
and rehabilitation of drug addicts in Bangladesh

Photo courtesy: Prothom Alo (Bengali daily)

The Congregation of Holy Cross Brother Ronald F. Drahozal, C.S.C., with decades of service to the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, especially street drug addicts, in Bangladesh, died on October 15 at Dujarie House of Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. He was 81.


In 1988, Brother Drahozal founded BARACA (Bangladesh Assistance and Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts) in Dhaka. It is now a Caritas project run by Holy Cross Brothers. In 1994, he founded APON (Ashokti Punorbashon Nibash -- Drug Rehabilitation Residence) in Dhaka, and later in 2007, it moved to a new and spacious facility in the district of Manikganj where hundreds of male and female addicts receive service. 

This American Brother's selfless service drew the attention of many in Bangladesh and abroad. He received several accolades. Recognizing his service, the Bangladesh government awarded him a medal and granted him citizenship of Bangladesh. 

For details on him and his work, please read the following:

• US missionary who helped youths break from drugs passes away (Oct. 17, 2018)
• Brother Ronald F. Drahozal
• Brother Ronald Drahozal: An Appreciation (Nov. 2, 2018)
• 60 Years as Brother Ronald Drahozal, CSC (Jan. 29, 2018)
• Bangladeshi drug addicts get new lease of life (July 21, 2018)
• Brother Ronald Drahozal, C.S.C., Through the APON, Serves Drug Addicts in Bangladesh (Sept. 28, 2013)
• Brother Ronald Drahozal and Apon (Nov. 12, 2012)
• Drug rehab pioneer Brother Drahozal honoured (Jan. 25, 2017)
• AponGaon: Facebook

Father Richard J. Novak, C.S.C: A U.S. Missionary Killed In A Hindu-Muslim Riot In East Pakistan in 1964

A book on the life of U.S. Holy Cross missionary
Father Richard J. Novak, C.S.C. (1935-1964),
a professor at Notre Dame College, Dhaka 

Image courtesy: amazon.com/

Father Richard J. Novak, C.S.C. (1935-1964) was an American Congregation of Holy Cross missionary priest to the then East Pakistan (called Bangladesh after the independence from Pakistan in mid-December of 1971). On completion of his priestly studies in Le Mans, France, Dhaka's then-Archbishop Lawrence Leo Graner, C.S.C. ordained him there on June 29, 1961. 

In 1963, he went to East Pakistan as a missionary. After studying Bengali for a short time in Barisal, he began to teach Logic at Notre Dame College in Dhaka. From the beginning, he was deeply interested in the local people and their language and culture. 

"He was very friendly and likable and showed his unmistakable interest in people...He got around to more places than most of our men who have been there for many years. People everywhere still remember him. I used to worry about him, though, because it seemed to me that his liberal spirit was liable to get him into trouble sooner or later," wrote Father Richard Timm, C.S.C., a fellow missionary, and professor at Notre Dame College, on Feb. 6, 1966. 

 In early 1964, there was a Hindu-Muslim riot in India and Pakistan. In East Pakistan, the riot was severe in Hindu-populated Narayanganj and Khulna. Some Hindu riot victims were being treated at Holy Family Hospital in Dhaka. On January 15, Father Novak went to the hospital and wanted to extend his assistance. When a Hindu nurse-trainee at the hospital asked an American nun if there was anyone to help locate her father in Narayanganj where he worked at the Dhakeswari Cotton Mills, Father Novak was told of the request. Next day, on January 16, Father Novak, risking his life, bicycled 10 miles distance to Narayanganj and tried to cross the river on a ferry to reach the mills. On the boat, some Muslim youths attacked him and, on reaching the other side, killed him with lethal stabs and threw his corpse to the river. 

From that day news on his whereabouts was unknown in Dhaka for eight days. Then, some local Muslims from Narayanganj came to Dhaka and gave the Notre Dame College priests the terrible news. 

On the occasion of the remembrance of Father Novak in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, on January 27, 1964, Father Arnold A. Fell, C.S.C., wrote: "There is a sort of perfect unity in Father Richard's life in that, as far as we know, he also met death, like Christ, in the midst of the people he had come to help and succor. And from what we know he also met death on an errand of mercy, trying to help those who were threatened by the communal Hindu-Moslem riots that were raging in and around Dhaka...in the fuller, deeper sense of the word, 'a martyr is one who dies giving witness to Christ.' In this full, deep sense Fathe Richard Novak died a martyr." 

For more on Father Richard J. Novak, please read the following:

• The Day My Brother Was Murdered (by Michael Novak) (Dec. 24, 2008)
• Revisiting the Life and Death of Father Richard J. Novak, C.S.C. [1935-1964] (by Mary Ann Novak, June 2008)
• Murder, 50 Years After (by Michael Novak) (Dec. 8, 2013)
• Father Richard Novak Library Opened by His Brother Michael Novak [at Notre Dame College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Sept. 1, 1995]

Brother Fulgence Dougherty, C.S.C., Dies

Brother Fulgence Dougherty, C.S.C. (1922-2017)

Photo courtesy: www.up.edu/

Brother Fulgence Dougherty, C.S.C., belonging to the Congregation of Holy Cross, died on December 17, 2017 from old-age illness and complications at Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. He was 95 years old.  

Brother Dougherty served in various capacities in the USA, Bangladesh, Liberia, and Ghana. He was a renowned missionary teacher and headmaster. At the University of Portland, Oregon, USA, he was the Director of International Student Services from 1978 to 1992. He will be fondly remembered by many of his students, friends, and colleagues.  

Father Benjamin Costa, C.S.C., Passes Away

(L-R): Dominic Rozario and his friend Father Benjamin Costa, CSC, at the Mathis House of Notre Dame College, Dhaka

Photo (July 17, 2017) © Jerome D'Costa

(L-R): Father Bernard Palma and Father Benjamin Costa, CSC, as young priests in the early 1970's

Photo @ courtesy of Father Bernard Palma

With a heavy heart, I am announcing the unexpected demise of Father Benjamin Costa, C.S.C., on Friday, October 13, at 3:45 p.m. at City Hospital in Dhaka. He died of acute lung and respiratory complications due to pneumonia. He was 75.  

Father Benjamin Costa, a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Bangladesh and former Acting Vice Chancellor of Notre Dame University, first in September last had suffered from chikunguniya virus attack and later from pneumonia and serious lung complications. On September 28, he was rushed from Square Hospital of Dhaka to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore where his situation did not improve. He was brought back to Dhaka few days ago and was admitted to City Hospital at Lalmatia.

His funeral Mass, held on Saturday, October 14, at St. Mary’s Cathedral at Ramna at 9:00 a.m., was attended by numerous grieving fellow priests, Brothers, Sisters, leaders of different religions, relatives, friends, school-college-university students and teachers, and well-wishers. Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., a classmate and friend of Father Costa, officiated at the Mass. Another memorial Mass was held at Holy Rosary Church at Tejgaon at 1:00 p.m. Around 4:00 p.m., he was buried at the Holy Cross Community Cemetery at Bhadun, about 20 km north-east of Dhaka.

In their condolence messages, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, and Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Dr. Akhtaruzzaman expressed their shock at the death of Father Costa and praised his valuable contributions to the education and development sectors of Bangladesh.  

Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, in an October 14 email message to me, wrote: “…The climax of our [cardinal and Father Costa’s] friendship was on 26 Sept. when in ICC [intensive care unit] at the [Dhaka] hospital, Ben [Father Benjamin] asked for the sacramental absolution of his sins on his 75^th Birth Anniversary. Confession was his best gift of friendship with me; and from me, the most precious gift to him in ministering reconciliation. Restlessly he worked, now he enjoys eternal rest.” It is noteworthy that Roman Catholics try their best to have a rewarding death by confessing their sins and receiving God’s forgiveness before leaving the earth.

Born on September 26, 1942 at Doripara Village of present-day Gazipur District, Father Benjamin Costa, at the age of five, with his siblings and parents (Late Matthew Costa and Late Elizabeth Palma) moved to Rajardior Village of Chatmohar Upazilla in Pabna District when their and fellow villagers' lands were acquired by the British government for building the railway line from Dhaka to Chittagong.  He studied at local parish primary school at Mathurapur of Pabna District and then at Little Flower Preparatory Seminary and Holy Cross High School at Bandura of Dhaka District and at Notre Dame College of Dhaka. He also studied at Notre Dame University in Indiana, USA, and later at Christ the King Major Seminary at Karachi in West Pakistan. On January 7, 1971, he was ordained a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross at Mathurapur Catholic Church. Much later, he also studied at the University of Chicago, USA.

He first served as a professor and later Principal (April, 1998- December, 2012) of Notre Dame College, Dhaka, and then Acting Vice Chancellor (2013-August, 2017) of the newly-established Notre Dame University Bangladesh in Dhaka. 

For Catholic youth formation and development, his contribution is legendary. He helped in the formation of the Catholic Jubo Seba Dal and other youth initiatives in the Archdiocese of Dhaka. He was also involved in many other charitable and educational organizations and initiatives. He was also was rector of college-going Holy Cross seminarians and Holy Cross Brother candidates. He was a prolific writer and translator. His write-ups appeared in numerous Catholic and secular newspapers, magazines, and journals. He wrote and translated several Catholic religious and spiritual books. In early 2017, his Bangla-language book of essays and articles, called Probondoshomogro, was published by Lekhaprokash -- a secular publishing house in Dhaka.

May God give an eternal rest to Father Benjamin Costa!

A part of his funeral ceremony at St. Mary's Cathedral can be viewed at: Fr. Benjamin Costa CSC: He Is No More

'Probondoshomogro': A Book of Essays and Articles by Father Benjamin Costa, C.S.C.

The book cover of Probondoshomogro, written by Father Benjamin Costa, C.S.C., 
the then Acting Vice-Chancellor of  Notre Dame University Bangladesh

This 400-page Bengali-language book, by Father Benjamin Costa, C.S.C. – former professor and Acting Vice-Chancellor of Notre Dame University Bangladesh, was published in early 2017 by Lekhaprokash of Dhaka.

It contains a collection of 58 write-ups, previously published in different newspapers, magazines, and journals in Bangladesh.

The main thread of his writings is God is love and we need to put that love into practice in our daily lives irrespective of our professions and religions.

The varied topics he covered in his book are:

• God, and being holy like God
• Jesus Christ (Christmas, Easter, Jesus as the ideal teacher)
• Kingdom of God: social perspectives
• Catholic Church and other Christian Churches
• Role of Churches in spreading Christ’s teachings
• Unity of Christian Churches
• Spirituality, and personal and collective spirituality
• The spirituality of religion teachers
• Spiritual formation of social-development workers
• Father Basil Moreau’s vision and present-day Congregation of Holy Cross
• The Congregation of Holy Cross in Bangladesh: its past and present situation
• Holy Cross Novitiate in Bangladesh
• History of the formation of priest-candidates of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Bangladesh
• Moral and spiritual formation of children and adolescents
• Family being the seed-beds of religious vocations
• Role of family in building a corruption-free society
• Role of youth organizations in the formation of values
• Role of the youth in the present realities of life
• Characteristics of a successful youth leader
• Teaching and teachers, and the role of teachers in changing societies
• The necessity of self-giving and self-dedication in the teaching profession
• How to curb students' increasing cheating or cribbing tendencies in academic tests and examinations
• Human rights, including those of minority communities, in the light of the Bangladesh Constitution
• Human rights, labour rights, and family rights
• Justice for peace and harmony in society
• Women’s rights in Christianity and present situation
• Basic and indivisible inheritance of all peoples
• The need for prayers for world peace and welfare of peoples
• Inter-religious communion and harmony
• Peaceful coexistence and cooperation among followers of different faiths
• Religious directions on religious fraternity and harmony
• Poet Nazrul Islam and inter-religious harmony
• Medical care is a liberating service
• Non-violence and world peace
• Globalization of religious beliefs
• Role of religion in countering terrorism
• Role of families in countering terrorism 

This book will enlighten both Christian and non-Christian readers, who can learn something valuable from it for the benefit of themselves and others.

Father Benjamin Costa Is Critically Sick, Needs Your Prayers

(L-R): Jerome D'Costa, blogger of the BANGLADESH CANADA AND BEYOND blog, and his friend Father Benjamin Costa, C.S.C., Acting Vice-Chancellor of Notre Dame University Bangladesh at the Mathis House of Notre Dame College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 17, 2017

Photo by Dominic Rozario

The initial report received here says that Father Benjamin Costa had got chikungunya virus attack as a result of a certain type of mosquito bite, resulting in headache, muscle pain, swelling of joints and more. Later he got lung complications followed by breathing difficulty, for which he was in Square Hospital in Dhaka for three weeks. 

As his condition was getting severe, he, on September 28, on emergency basis was rushed to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore by an air ambulance. Father James Clement Cruze, C.S.C., the Provincial of the Fathers of Holy Cross in Bangladesh, accompanied him.

A prayer request has been made for an early recovery of Father Benjamin Costa, C.S.C. to his fellow priests-Brothers-Sisters, friends, acquaintances, Bangladesh Notre Dame College and University professors and students.

Since the establishment of Notre Dame University Bangladesh in the Fall of 2014, Father Benjamin Costa, C.S.C., has been acting as the Vice-Chancellor until mid-August of this year. Then, Father Patrick Daniel Gaffney, C.S.C., a U.S. Holy Cross priest and Associate Professor of English in the same university, became the new Vice-Chancellor. 

The Latest on Father Benjamin Costa's Situation:

According to Father James Cruz's emails to Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario, and forwarded to me, doctors in Singapore did two bronchoscopies on Father Benjamin Costa and "ventilation has been changed from mouth to throat. He is still stable. Doctors will say more on Sunday. He has been given high antibiotics." Father Cruz also says that Father Benjamin Costa's blood pressure and heart beat "are fine. Kidney is also good. Because of lung infections lung-support machine is helping him to breathe. Please continue to pray for him."

Further Info on Father Benjamin:

Father James Clement Cruze, C.S.C., who had accompanied Father Benjamin to Singapore, returned to Dhaka and Father Shital Hubert Rozario, C.S.C., took his place. Father Cruze writes in an October 8 e-mail to Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario: "The present situation of Father Benjamin remained the same. No change. He is in ventilation. Lung infection is grave. Doctor could not find out, either it is recoverable or not. They have done 2nd-time bronchoscopy and his ventilation has been changed from mouth to throat. He is being given high antibiotics. Doctors wanted few days more to give their opinions. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for him."

(Updated on September 30, 2017 at 10:40 p.m.)
(Updated again on October 6, 2017 at 12:40 p.m.)
  (Updated again on October 9, 2027 at 12:05 p.m.)  

The Quotation of the Week (February 12 - 18, 2017)

A quotation of Ralph Waldo Emerson on 'education,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (The front gate of St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, run by Holy Cross Brothers, at Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh: January 2, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

Bishop Michael Atul D'Rozario, CSC, of Bangladesh Dies

Bishop Emeritus Michael Atul D'Rozario, CSC, former bishop of the Diocese of Khulna, Bangladesh

Photo courtesy: Vatican Radio

Bishop Emeritus Michael Atul D'Rozario, CSC, who was the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Khulna in Bangladesh from September, 1970 to February, 2005, died of old-age ailments in Dhaka at the age of 91. 

He was ordained a priest at Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, on June 10, 1953. He later served as a parish priest, managing editor of the monthly Pratibeshi and the fortnightly Bulletin in Dhaka, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Dhaka archdiocese, rector of St. Joseph's Intermediate Seminary at Ramna, and professor of Logic at Notre Dame College, Dhaka. 

For more on him, please read the following:

• Bangladeshi Bishop D'Rozario of Khulna dies at 91
• Bishop Emeritus Michael Atul D'Rozario CSC of Khulna Diocese in Bangladesh (a Bengali-language article)

 

Brother Ronald Drahozal, C.S.C., Through the APON, Serves Drug Addicts in Bangladesh

Brother Ronald Drahozal, C.S.C., founder-director of the APON

Photo courtesy: The Protom Alo daily, Dhaka. All other photos below @ courtesy of the APON.

Brother Ronald Drahozal, C.S.C. – a U.S. member of the Congregation of Holy Cross involved in Bangladesh as missionary for the last 50 years – founded the Ashokti Punorbashon Nibash (APON) or the Addiction Rehabilitation Residence in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on October 1, 1994, with only one recovering drug addict. Under his direction and perseverance, the APON has grown from a tiny organization to an influential one known all over Bangladesh as well as some countries abroad. Presently, it is serving more than 230 drug addicts, aged five years to 55 years. 

 The APON, under the jurisdiction of the Brothers of Holy Cross in Bangladesh, strongly believes that “all addicts have a basic right to good health including treatment and rehabilitation for drug addiction. Therefore, our program is open to all drug addicts” – adult males and females as well as boys and girls – “without distinction of social, economic, religious, gender and age.” The APON also came to learn from its experience that “An addict is sick, not bad, not mad. An addict needs help to become well, not to become good or sane.”

The APON is a local non-government organization (NGO), registered with the Government of Bangladesh. It is the second effort, on behalf of the Catholic Church of Bangladesh, to treat and rehabilitate drug addicts. The First effort of this Church was that the Bangladesh Rehabilitation and Assistance Centre for the Addicts (BARACA), founded in 1988 and directed by Brother Ronald Drahozal until 1994. The BARACA later became a project of Caritas Bangladesh.  

First headquartered in Mohammadpur of Dhaka and later moved to APONGAON at Singair in Manikganj District, 63 kilometers north-west of Dhaka City, the APON developed and has been using an innovative and special rehabilitation programme by adopting the 12-step principles of the Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, therapeutic community (TC) approach, APON family environment approach, and other related activities. Drug addicts and alcoholics of any religious persuasion and socio-economic status are accepted in its centre. 

It is noteworthy that the APON was the first organization to reach out to help female drug addicts and collect data on their pervasive problems. In addition, the APON was the first and still is the only organization with a special drug rehabilitation programme for children, especially street children.

Residential buildings in Apongaon (at Singair, Manikganj District)

With money inherited from his family in the U.S.A., Brother Drahozal purchased a three-acre land at Singair to make a permanent treatment and rehabilitation centre, called APONGAON (APON village) for a comprehensive support to the drug users. The Dutch-Bangla Bank, BRAC, Grameen Bank and Summit Group of Industries came forward in funding the construction of two residential buildings there. The Prothom Alo, a Bengali daily, has been assisting Brother Drahozal in his awareness building programme among the street children. In 2007, the headquarters of APON in Dhaka moved to this APON village permanently. APONGAON is a residential facility for both male and female adult and child drug addicts. 

Brother Drahozal speaks on drug addiction and the role of the APON in a Diganta TV programme in Dhaka

 In last several years, the APON and APONGAON have received wider media coverage in the Bangladeshi newspapers, magazines, radio and television as well as some news media abroad the UCANews of Hong Kong, and ABC Radio, and BBC radio and TV. 

The APON gets a coverage in The Independent daily of  Dhaka (Oct. 7, 2012)

Activities of the APON

• The APON provides drug dependency treatment and rehabilitation.

• It disseminates information on drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation, sexually transmitted infections (STI), human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency (HIV/AIDS), hepatitis B and C, and other related harms with Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials and awareness programme and outreach activities and peer-led intervention. 

• It gives basic education, skill training and relevant knowledge for employment of recovering addicts.

• Recovering drug users also receive aftercare and follow-up services. 

• It advocates in the national level to establish the legal rights of the drug addicts for treatment services as mentioned in the Control Act of 1990.

Brother Drahozal and his activities with the APON gets a publicity in the Prothom Alo daily of Dhaka

Outreach Drop-In Centre/Safe Night Shelter (ODIC/SNS) for Street Children

From 2012, the APON started an Outreach Drop-In Centre/Safe Night Shelter in Mirpur 1, Dhaka, with assistance from the Colombo Plan Secretariat. This programme serves drug addicts aged 4 to 14 years. Brother Drahozal writes in a report that, in Dhaka city alone, the number of street children ranges from 300,000 to 500,000. About 49.2% of these children are under the age of 10. Most of these children are using drugs. As long as they continue to live on streets, they “continue to be involved in obsessive activities and use addictive drugs. 

Most street kids start with watching video games and smoking cigarettes. Gradually they fall for sniffing dandy/glue, smoking ganja (cannabis), taking sleeping pills and alcohol, and, eventually, some injecting drugs, smoking heroin and yaba/baba, and getting involved in illicit sex. “In order to find funds many do some basic work, stealing at times, others rent their body for sex, selling and/or trafficking drugs or in some way ‘manage’ funds.” This vicious circle continues. 

In this drop-in centre, children, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. receive care, such as medical attention, basic education, skills training, bath, food (tiffin and lunch), awareness orientation on addiction and AIDS, and recreation (TV and indoor games). They also increasingly become aware of the harms that drugs bring and receive motivation for being drug free. Those, who are ready to stop using drugs or are willing to do so, are sent to APONGAON Centre for their undergoing rehabilitation. So far, more than 10 serious drug user street children have been sent there. 

The Brother has a plan to have a safe night shelter for these children in future. He is also advocating for Bangladesh Government attention to and assistance for under-18 “Most At Risk Adolescents” (MARA), who are drug addicts but will be adults soon and most likely to acquire HIV/AIDS. If these street children are not taken care of, they will be causing more harms to the society at large in future. 

The Staff

Most of the staff at APONGAON are former drug addicts, who underwent rehabilitation from the APON. Some of these staff have been trained at the Self Enhancement for Life Foundation (SELF), a drug rehabilitation programme in the Philippines using a dual approach therapeutic community programme. 

The General Council and Executive Committee of the APON

The APON has a General Council and an Executive Committee whose members – both male and female – come from different professions. They assist Brother Drahozal in the management of the APON. 

Participation in International Events

Brother Drahozal participated in a number of international events. Some of these are: The Sixth Asian Recovery Symposium in New Delhi, India; Outreach Drop-In Centre training by the Colombo Plan in Davao, the Philippines; SELF Rehabilitation Centre near Manila, the Philippines; and the World Congress of Therapeutic Community in Bali, Indonesia. In some of these events, a few APON staff also participated.

Raju Cruze, a recovering addict and a participant from APON, Father Somar of Indonesia, and Brother Ronald Drahozal, CSC, at the World Conference of the World Federation of Therapeutic Community in Bali, Indonesia. Brother was one of the guest speakers in the conference.

Receipt of Awards

The APON received certificates and commendations for participating in local drug prevention awareness programmes and fundraising. 

Former St. Gregory's High School students of 1967 along with the APON organized the First Annual Run/Walk 2012 on December 28, 2012 as part of a drug free society and drug awareness programme in Dhaka

The APON also received the first Best Drug Rehabilitation Centre Programme recognition in Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh Home Minister Mohiudding Khan Alamgir presents a crest to Brother Drahozal (left) on the International Day Against Drug Abuse in Dhaka on June 27, 2013

Background

In 1987, some Brothers of Holy Cross and others noted an increasing number of drug addicts in Mohammadpur and Tejgaon areas of Dhaka. They were thinking aloud as what they could do to address this problem among the youth. 

Although he had no previous knowledge about drug addiction and rehabilitation, Brother Ronald Drahozal, C.S.C. expressed his willingness to work in this field. As a result, in 1988, he became the founder-director of the BangladeshRehabilitation and Assistance Centre for the Addicts (BARACA), the first such effort on behalf of the Catholic Church in Bangladesh. He directed the BARACA from 1988 to 1994. When Caritas Bangladesh took over this project fully, Brother Drahozal left the BARACA and founded the APON on October 1, 1994. As work went on, he had exposure to several drug rehab centres with the country and abroad, attended seminars and conferences on drug treatment and rehabilitation. 

Brother Ronald Drahozal was born in Cedar Rapids of Iowa, U.S.A. in 1937. He took his profession of vows as a Brother of Holy Cross in 1958. He studied at St. Edward’s University in Austin of Texas, U.S.A.

He arrived in East Pakistan (that later became Bangladesh) in 1962. He taught at St. Gregory’s High School in Dhaka and St. Nicholas’ High School at Nagori of Gazipur District. He directed a special spiritual and human development course for six months each year for eight years for diocesan seminarians at Jalchatra of Tangail District. He also served as the director of the programme for candidates who wanted to join the Brothers of Holy Cross in Bangladesh. Some of the present-day Bangladeshi Brothers who are in leadership positions are his former students. 

Besides running the APON and APONGAON, Brother Drahozal also gives talks on drug addiction and rehabilitation to different groups, speaks in seminars and conferences – both within Bangladesh and abroad, presents papers, writes articles, and appears in talk shows in both local and foreign radio and TV in Dhaka. 

Once a tall, lithe, and sprightly gentleman, Brother Drahozal is now a bit gaunt and slow, yet has enough stamina for working long hours. 

According to Brother Drahozal, a childhood experience of his might have been behind his dedicated service to the drug addicts in Bangladesh. His parents were always helping the needy in their neighborhood. Once during a Christmas season, his mother took young Ronald Drahozal to the house of a man, who was both impoverished and drug-addicted. When the man opened his door, she presented him with a new set of clothes as a Christmas gift. The man was extremely grateful and happy. Brother still remembers this incident vividly. 

For more information on the APON, you may access to:  Ashokti Punorbashon Nibash (APON)

Also see in Youtube's video the Diganta TV's Feature on APON.

Notre Dame University, Bangladesh (NDUB), Debuts in Coming September

An architectural design of the future Notre Dame University, Bangladesh building

The Congregation of Holy Cross, that has been running Notre Dame College in Dhaka since 1949, is opening a university in this college campus from coming September. The same Congregation of Holy Cross runs the world-renowned University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA. 

The new university, named Notre Dame University, Bangladesh, received the required Bangladesh government approval on April 29, 2013. It will be one of dozens of universities in Bangladesh. It is going to be the first Catholic university in Bangladesh with Father Benjamin Costa, CSC, as its Vice Chancellor.

A Different Type of University

Notre Dame University, Bangladesh, is slated to be a unique university because of its “student-centered, value-based and service-oriented” emphasis. It intends to “teach students not just a livelihood, but how to live in today’s complex world.” It will “not educate just the mind but also help form the heart.” The university’s motto is “The competence to see and the courage to act.” 

The university will temporarily be housed in the buildings of Notre Dame College until the construction of its own multi-storied building in the north-east section of the same college campus. 

A Co-educational University

Although Notre Dame College is only for male students, the new university will be for both male and female students and its medium of instruction will be English.

Each academic year will have three semesters – the Fall Semester (September to Mid-December), Spring Semester (January to March) and Summer Semester (Mid-April to July). The annual admissions will take place only in September. 

Courses

The four-year Degree (Honours) courses will be of two types – the core curriculum courses and the main or major courses. 

In the first year, all students, irrespective of their major courses to be taken in the last three years, will need to take the mandatory core curriculum courses. These courses will include leadership, critical (analytical) thinking, academic methodology, linguistic skills in English, human dignity and rights, and human development. 

The students will also be exposed to Socio-cultural History of Asia, Economics, Basic Sciences (Physics, chemistry, Biology and Mathematics), Inter-Personal Relations and Bangladesh Ethnic Studies.

In addition, students will learn about globalization, common good (good governance) and gender relations. 

The core curriculum is based on the belief that “a well-educated person knows something about everything and everything of something.”

The next three years will be devoted to students’ major subjects “in context of what has been learned in the Core-Curriculum.”

Initially Three Major Degree Programmes

This non-residential university will start with only three Degree (Honours) programmes: Arts (English Language, Philosophy, Economics and Sociology), Business Studies (Accounting, Management, Marketing and Finance), and Law (both Honours and Pass Course). 

The University Website

This university's website is still under construction. In future, more details about this university can be accessed at: Notre DameUniversity, Bangladesh.