Ritu Khatun, a student of Hakimpur Secondary School in Chaugachha upazila, has secured a GPA-5 in the SSC examination despite losing her father during the exams.
A humanities student, Ritu sat for her exams while her father, Kabir Hossain, a day labourer and the family’s sole breadwinner, was battling cancer.
During the exams, Kabir’s condition deteriorated and he was admitted to Jessore General Hospital. On May 10, the day Ritu was scheduled to sit for her Bangladesh History and World Civilisation examination, her father died at the hospital early in the morning.
The family did not tell Ritu about her father’s death before the exam. She travelled from Hakimpur village, around 10km from Chaugachha town, to her examination centre at Sara Pilot Girls’ High School.
After Ritu reached the centre, her father’s body was brought home. She learned about his death only after returning home following the exam. After seeing her father for the last time and bidding him farewell, she had to return to her studies and prepare for the remaining exams.
Despite the devastating loss, Ritu completed all her examinations and secured a GPA-5 when the results were published on Monday.
“I am sure my father would have been very happy to see my result if he were alive. I ask everyone to pray for him,” Ritu said.
She said she was now worried about pursuing higher education as her family was struggling financially.
“Our family depended on my father’s income. Now that he is gone, it has become very difficult to make ends meet,” she said.
Ritu is the younger of two daughters of the late Kabir Hossain and Rehena Khatun of Hakimpur village under Hakimpur union. Her elder sister is married.
Shahana Khatun, a senior assistant teacher at Ritu’s school, said Ritu was a talented student and the school had expected her to perform well.
“Her father’s illness and the family’s financial hardship could not stop her from achieving this result. We hope she will continue to succeed in the future,” she said.
She also urged well-off members of society to support Ritu and help arrange a scholarship for her higher education.
Chaugachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Islam described Ritu’s achievement as “very good news” and assured her of support from the upazila administration.
“We will stand by this determined and talented student and provide the highest possible support for her higher education,” she said.