Moriom overcomes 34km hurdle to sit for exams today

Wheelchair-bound Moriom has been battling extreme poverty and adverse physical condition all her life but she never gave up studies. She pursued education with dogged determination despite the hardship. Things, however, appeared grim before her second year diploma examinations that began from Thursday. The exams are taking place in Jessore – some 34 kilometres from Abhaynagar upazila. Travelling to the district town from Abhaynagar appeared to be a major obstacle as it is nearly impossible for her to go by bus. She consulted her friends and they agreed to hire a microbus for commuting to Jessore during exams. Moriom eventually stepped back as she failed to collect her share of Tk3,000. Her father passed away three years ago. Her mother, who depended on others for livelihood, was recently rehabilitated under the beggar-free Abhaynagar project. As a last resort, Moriom approached acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mondip Gharai last week and informed him about her plight. The UNO asked her to stop worrying about money and told her to focus on her studies. Mondip went to Moriom's house at the railway slum on Tuesday and gave her financial aid to cover travel expenses. The fund for assisting the physically challenged had run dry at the end of the fiscal year. So, the UNO gave the money out of allowance he got for his HSC exam duties. Moriom travelled to Jessore to attend her first exam this morning on a microbus. Her dream is to become an engineer and help others in need.