Every afternoon, as Dhaka’s traffic hums past the Faculty of Fine Arts, a man on the footpath sets down a bit of rice and bread. Within minutes, rats, squirrels, birds and stray dogs gather. They show no signs of fear, only friendship and love.
For nearly three years, Mohammed Kamal Uddin Sentu has been quietly reshaping how the city treats its smallest lives. He doesn’t do it with money or power, but with kindness.
While most people leave scraps for stray dogs or cats, most people treat rats as enemies. “One day, I noticed rats and birds running around frantically, hungry and ignored,” Sentu said softly. “No one feeds the rats; everyone just tries to kill them. I thought, why not try to tame them with food instead?”
In 2022, he began leaving small pieces of food near his footpath stall. At first, the rats approached cautiously. Slowly, trust grew. “People think only white or fancy rats can be friendly, but even the small black ones living in Dhaka’s drains respond to kindness. Nobody has ever cared for them before,” he said.
As dusk falls, the smell of rice and lentils draws tiny paws from nearby drains. Squirrels leap between walls, birds peck at scattered grains, and stray cats linger nearby. Sentu waits, smiling quietly.
The animal lover’s unusual compassion recently caught the attention of social media. Videos of him feeding rats and birds went viral, earning thousands of likes and comments.
He was surprised by the response. “Everyone said positive things. No one criticised me for feeding them. If anyone ever told me it was harmful, I’d stop, but I believe if you take care of any animal with love, it becomes your friend,” he said with a smile.
Outside his acts of kindness, Sentu leads a simple life. Every morning, he and his teenage son open their small stall, selling snacks and tea to passersby. The modest earnings feed both his family and his “little friends.”
Decades ago, he worked in a regular job but left because he felt trapped by the routine. For over 50 years, he tried various things before settling in front of Charukola.
Sentu’s love for animals is nothing new. He fondly recalls rescuing a ‘myna’ bird from a flooded drain nearly 25 years ago. “I didn’t cage it. I believe every animal deserves to live free. I nursed it back to health and then released it. There’s no beauty in a life behind bars. Not for humans, not for animals,” he said.
Today, he regularly feeds cats, dogs and birds, along with rats, often using his own modest earnings. “Allah made humans the best of creation. It’s our duty to care for others and stop injustice. We can’t call ourselves the best if we’re cruel,” he said.
He feels pain when he sees people beating strays with sticks. Instead, he urges people to be kind and compassionate. “If everyone shows a little love, we can make this world more beautiful,” he added.
In a city where animals are often invisible or unwelcome, Sentu’s quiet compassion stands out. His story reminds us that kindness doesn’t always need grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s as simple as sharing food with a hungry creature no one else notices.
