Jillian M Rose, a British citizen by birth, has spent 59 years in Bangladesh loving Bengali language and Bangladesh.
Although her mother tongue is English, she fell in love with Bengali and her second mother tongue has become Bengali.
This British citizen came to Bangladesh in 1964. Now, Jillian speaks Bengali, wears a saree. She pays homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for language on 21st February.
In 1964, at the age of 25, she left England for missionary work and came to this country. Even after returning to her country after a few years in Barisal, in 1974, she came again for her love of the Bangla language.
She joined Ballabpur Mission Hospital in Mujibnagar Upazila of Meherpur 49 years ago to serve people.
Jillian M Rose, a nurse by profession, fell in love with this country and spent 59 years on the soil of Bengal. She also desires that the soil of Bangladesh will be her last address.
Jillian M Rose has been serving various patients with her own hands from morning till night.
Despite being a citizen of another country, she is serving the people of this country with utmost compassion and care. Everyone's favorite face is Rose. Rose now has only one wish - a final farewell on the soil of Bengal.
She has built an old age home on her own initiative. She expects that Bangladesh will give him dual citizenship.
Papia Mandal, a nurse at Ballabpur Mission Hospital, said: 'It is very nice to work with Sister Rose. She does not look like a foreigner.``
At first she had trouble understanding her words, but now she can speak Bengali fluently. Any problem can be solved by her; People of this area call her mother. She is providing service 24 hours a day and night. Don't do anything for herself, said the nurse.
“We are proud of her,” added Papia.
Ballabpur village UP member Babul Mallik said: "Despite increasing her age, her interest to serve people has not decreased a bit. She is always busy serving patients from morning till midnight. Her last wish is to be buried in the soil of Bengal.”
She has been in love with Bengal since before the independence of the country. After arriving at the mission hospital, her family tried several times to take him back to their home country, but failed. She sacrificed her life in service. She runs an old home at the Mission Hospital with her pension from London. She also gave money to poor patients to buy medicine.
“We demand that she be given Bangladeshi citizenship,” said the UP member.
Ayub Hossain, chairman of Bagwan Union Parishad, said: "Jillian M Rose has been serving the people of this region for a long time. We are requesting the government to grant him dual citizenship.”
“I will apply again to the prime minister through the Deputy Commissioner for her dual citizenship,” said the chairman.
Jillian told Bangla Tribune: "I first came to Barisal in 1964 and learned Bengali language. Bengali has become my second language. I know that the people of your country have given their lives for the Bengali language and I respect them. Every year on 21st February we observe this day with the girls in the hospital premises. I like to speak Bengali. Bangladesh has given me the opportunity to serve, for that I am grateful. I am a nurse, my job is to serve people. I will serve like this as long as I live.”
Mentioning that she would have been happy if she got dual citizenship, she said: "It will be painful if I ever leave Bangladesh and return to London."
“I have been here for a long time. I am mixed with them. I can't say whether they will send me if I die in Bangladesh. However, my desire is to stay on the soil of Bengal. I have been here for a long time. I would be happy to get the citizenship of this country,” she added.