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It’s never too late to learn
Age should not stop one from learning. One can pursue education at any age if there is a will. A mother of five has proved this by getting enrolled in Class-I along with her youngest child in a primary school in Sadar upazila here.
Taslima Begum, 35, wife of rickshaw-puller Golam Hossain, and their son Masum Hossain, 6, have got admitted to No. 46 Akania Govt Primary School. They received their textbooks on January 1 when the entire country celebrated the textbook festival.
After the admission, both the mother and the son are passing busy time with their studies.
Taslima was married off to Golam Hossain at an early age for which she could not continue her education. She, however, used to nurture deep in her heart a great interest for education.
Talking to UNB, Taslima said she took the decision to get enrolled in school in order to become a good housewife as she had to face criticisms for lack of education on various occasions.
“I’ve a dream to be a social worker to serve the community in the future, and my study will help me fulfill my dream. I think it’s possible to have education at any age.”
Chairman of Sadar upazila parishad Shahjahan Shishir inspired Taslima when he learned about her enormous interest about study.
Obayedur Rahman, headmaster of the school, said the textbooks were distributed among students, including Taslima and her son Masum, on the first day of the New Year when the upazila parishad chairman was present there.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahjahan Shishir urged the school authorities to provide Taslima the same opportunity that other students avail themselves of.
He also took the responsibility of the studies of the mother and son, saying, “I’ll bear all the educational expenses of Taslima and her son as long as they study.”
District Primary Education Officer Mohammad Sahabuddin said they are working relentlessly to root out illiteracy from the country by 2041 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “I think we should create the opportunity for Taslima and support her because she is showing a great interest in study,” he said.
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FF’s fight for recognition continues in independent Bangladesh
Sifat Ali took up arms and fought gallantly in the Liberation War in 1971, but his battle is far from over as he continues to fight for recognition as a freedom fighter.
The 65-year-old from Sunamganj’s Tahirpur upazila took part in the Liberation War from Sector Five and received a certificate from General Osmani shortly after independence.
His world turned upside down when his name was dropped from the list of freedom fighters and his allowance was stopped.
Sifat, who has difficulty in walking, has since been going from one government office to another hoping to regain his lost freedom fighter status and dignity.
“I fought for the country responding to the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. My brothers in arms have been recognised as freedom fighters but I’ve been left out. It’s really upsetting,” he told UNB.
He said he had gone to Dhaka with former Tahirpur upazila Muktijoddha Commander Mojahid Uddin and applied for inclusion in gazette in 2014. But there has been no progress.
“I got recognition after independence. But I was stripped off my status and allowance when my name was dropped from the list recently,” he said.
His son Emran Hossain said his father’s last wish is to die as a recognised freedom fighter.
Tahirpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Bijen Bannerjee said he was willing to recommend Sifat Ali after scrutinising his papers. “The ministry will make the final call,” he added.
Muktijoddha Commander Mojahid said that there was no doubt that Sifat Ali is a freedom fighter.
“Everyone knows that he fought in the Liberation War. I hope that he gets his due honour and recognition as a freedom fighter during his lifetime,” he said.
Satkhira’s ‘mele’ mat industry faces extinction
A crisis of raw materials , low prices of finished goods and availability of cheaper alternatives are pushing the once thriving ‘mele’ mat industry of Satkhira towards extinction.
“The demand for ‘mele’ mats came down due to availability of plastic mats,” said Kawsar Ali, a wholesale mat trader of Sultanpur Boro Bazar in Satkhira who has been involved with the trade for 30 years.
A medium-sized plastic mat is sold at Tk 200-220 whereas a ‘mele’ mat of the same size costs Tk 300-350. “People are basically going for the cheaper alternative,” he said.
Many mat artisans are changing professions. But it was not always like this.
Only two decades ago, the business was brisk and mats from Satkhira were supplied all over the country.
Ninety percent families of Tetulia village in Ashashuni upazila used to be involved with mat production in the early 2000s, locals said. The number is now dwindling and at present, a small number of families are involved with the trade.
Many artisans are barely managing to hold on to the profession.
Gobinda Mondol, 55, is one of them. He said ‘mele’, a type of grass used as raw material for making the mat, is scarce now and costs much.
“Tk 500 is needed to make a big-sized mat and it’s sold for Tk 600. It takes time to make a mat and it’s really difficult to run family with the paltry income,” he said.
Tarapodo Mondol, 60, of Joduardangi village of the same upazila, said they have been making mats for generations. He recalled how ‘mele’ was once widely cultivated in the area.
“We used to produce 200 to 250 pairs of mats every week but the number has come down to eight to 10. As a result, the mat industry is on the verge of extinction,” he said.
Tarapodo said people involved with the mat trade had changed profession to feed their families.
Nasim Faruk Khan Mithu, President of Satkhira Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the industry has suffered serious setback. “Those who were involved with this profession are now living in inhuman condition,” he said.
Stakeholders have urged the government to take prompt steps. They said it will soon cease to exist if the producers are not provided with necessary loan assistance.
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