Belayet Sheikh, a Gazipur resident, is poised to sit for Dhaka University's (DU) June 11 admission test at the age of 55, proving the saying that age is just a number.
He has taken the brave step to fulfil his lifelong dream of studying at university, despite his responsibilities as a son, a husband and a father.
While talking to Dhaka Tribune, Belayet said taking such a bold step at this stage of life had been challenging.
He said: “I have tried to finish my studies multiple times but failed due to the responsibilities I had to fulfil. Plus, I had a wish to educate my siblings and my children, but they were not interested enough to pursue that path.
“Out of frustration, I took matters into my own hands, and applied for the DU admission test to be held next month.”
Belayet said he had faced various obstacles throughout his academic life.
In 1983, when Belayet was preparing for his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, his father fell ill. Being a responsible son, he used up all of his savings for his father’s treatment, which he had intended to spend on SSC admission form.
Five years later, in 1988, Belayet managed to save enough money to take the SSC exams again. But fate intervened again, as Bangladesh was hit by the biggest flood in the country’s history that year.
In trying to save his home and feed his family, Belayet lost his savings, again.
Later, in 1992, Belayet’s mother fell ill, and he had to spend all he had saved for her treatment.
“I could not sit for SSC that year either. My mother encouraged me to continue my studies, but I did not get the time I needed, as I had several other responsibilities,” he said.
He mentioned that he had not let go of his wish to be educated and had wanted to pass on that dream to his brothers. “One of my brothers finished school but the other did not. They were not interested in education. But they are both successful businessmen now.”
“[Then] I wanted my children to go to good, reputed universities, but they too were not too thrilled about the idea,” he said.
He said his elder son Shipon Sheikh and daughter Bipasha Sheikh had been admitted to universities but had not completed their undergraduate studies.
Belayet reminisced: “When my youngest son was in the eighth grade, I got admitted in the ninth grade at the same school. I was 50 years old at that time.
“At the age of 52, I passed SSC with a GPA of 4.43, and HSC with a GPA of 4.58. I thought of applying to DU as I had good grades.”
Belayet currently works as a local correspondent for The Daily Karatoa and wishes to study mass communication and journalism at DU.