Chittagong bureau :

Samiya, the daughter of an auto driver father and a garment worker mother, could not buy books even if she bought a notebook. She did not even dare to think of private studies. Still, she had a dream in her eyes, an unwavering desire to move forward. Samia’s willpower has brought her first step to success. She is now dreaming of higher education by achieving a golden GPA-5 in her SSC results.

I was talking about Samia Akhter Sharmin, daughter of auto driver Habibur Rahman and Bibi Saira, a resident of a rented house in Alamgir, adjacent to Taltola Pukurpar, Halishahar B-Block, Chittagong City. Samia, a child of a needy family, has surprised everyone by snatching excellent results despite being deprived of all kinds of benefits. She has brought smiles to the faces of her family and neighbors as well.
Samia Akhter Sharmin has become a respected person, from her classmates to her school teachers. But despite all the excitement and joy around her, this talented student has a look of uncertainty on her face, a fear of breaking her dreams.

Samia breathes a sigh of relief and says, “My first goal was to get the highest possible results in SSC at any cost. Otherwise, I will not be able to continue my studies. Either I will have to get married or I will have to get a job in a garment factory. In this situation, I have not chosen a life that allows me to dedicate myself to studying.”

With an unyielding desire to keep her education going, Samia created a separate routine of studying for up to 10 hours a day and night. Even then, she would participate in household chores with a smile. Samia would keep a watchful eye on her studies so that they would not become a hindrance or a source of annoyance to even the closest people in her family.

The SSC exam was like a life-and-death juncture for her. Samia says in a calm voice, ‘I have been blessed by Allah – my family has also found the rationale to continue their studies by achieving good results in SSC. But now I am stuck in the darkness of another uncertainty.’

In other words, just as college admission has become uncertain, so has the dream of becoming a computer engineer begun to fade. Where the wheels of the family do not want to turn with the very meager income of the parents, where can they afford to admit their daughter to college and continue her studies? This is like touching the sky for her father Habibur Rahman. In such a desperate situation, the Chittagong Reporters Association (CRA) has come forward to support the talented student Samia Akhter Sharmin.

CRA President Sohag Arefin and the organization’s associate office secretary Mohammad Rabiul Hossain have contacted Samia’s family. The Chittagong Journalists’ Association is now the charioteer of the indomitable Samia’s dream. CRA wants to keep a touch of guardianship at every step of her dream of becoming a computer engineer. The talented Samia now smiles with joy, flying with excitement. The darkness of worry and uncertainty has disappeared from her eyes and face in an instant. In Samia’s words: ‘I am setting foot in college, CRA is by my side – it is only a matter of time now to achieve my dream. Everyone’s blessings will accelerate my future success, InshaAllah.’

The journalists associated with CRA are more excited than Samia for the joy of standing by her side. Sohag Arefin, the president of the organization, said, ‘Samia Akhter Sharmin is the model daughter of CRA. This journalist organization of Chittagong will be Samia’s shadow in the future success and dream victory – this is the most peaceful satisfaction.’

CRA General Secretary Nurul Amin Khokon said that the Chittagong Reporters Association (CRA), an organization of professional journalists, conducts various social activities in addition to working for the welfare of media workers. CRA is happy to stand by the indomitable Samia today. He called on the wealthy of the society to also stand by Samia.

At this time, CRA Vice President Raju Ahmed, Joint General Secretary Abdul Quader Raju, Member Shahidul Islam, Organizing Secretary Md. Rubel, Office Secretary Md. Ashraf Uddin, Co-Organizing Secretary
Mohammad Shakil, Co-Office Secretary Mohammad Rabiul Hossain, Member Zahir Uddin Babar and many others were present.