From a desire to be enlightened, 51-year-old Hasina Khatun of Bhatpara village in Kaliganj upazila of Jhenaidah has joined primary school again and is now a fifth-grade student.
Hasina believes those who are not educated live in darkness, which led her to get enrolled at school.
She was not lucky enough to go to school during her childhood due to poverty. Later, she was married off because of her family's financial woes.
She has been busy with family and children since then. She has a husband, a son and a daughter. Her son and daughter are already married now.
Though she did not know how to read and write, she ensured that her son got an education.
Hasina Khatun, the wife of Abdul Kashem, said she wants to be educated only for the sake of it as she does not want to study for a job or any other reason at this age.
“Enlightenment is my main desire,” she said.
Despite a lack of time and opportunity, she finally enrolled in primary school after consulting with a neighbour.
Seeing her desire to study, the teachers accepted her into the school. Hasina Khatun is now a fifth-grade student at Bhatpara Government Primary School. Her roll is 27 out of 37 students.
Hasina comes to school every day after finishing her daily chores. She is also very focused on her education. Her classmates are also very happy to have her.
Her classmate Fatema said: “Some of us call her (Hasina) grandmother and some call her aunt. She sometimes tells us different stories.”
“We have a great time. Every day we go to school together,” she said.
Another student named Touhidul Islam said: “Hasina Dadi studied with us from the first grade.”
School teacher Seema Rani Bhattacharya said Hasina Khatun is very attentive in class. She comes to school regularly. She enrolled in school to learn to read and write. Now she can do everything. The school teachers are very supportive of him.
Momena Begum, head teacher of the school, said that it is really rare to be a regular student after being admitted to school at this age.
“Hasina is very attentive to her education. As a result of her interest, I admitted her. She comes to school regularly after managing her family. The teachers are giving her full support. If those who cannot read and write go to school like Hasina Khatun, the country will be illiterate-free,” she said.