Gold medallist Shammi Akhtar’s eyes filled with happy tears as it was beyond her expectation that Jessore 3 MP Kazi Nabil Ahmed would go so far as to build her a house and give her Tk50,000 as a gift.
Considering her financial situation he also assured to provide Tk5,000 every month for her children’s education.
Shammi went to meet the MP in his Kazipara residence on Wednesday.
She went there with her two children, Abu Hurayra, 7, who studies in class 2 and Abu Hamza, 4, who has not started school yet.
After her husband’s death she has been struggling to make ends meet with her children.
Currently living in Jessore cantonment quarters she depends on her husband's pension. But the authorities have told her to vacate the quarter within the next year.
When a national daily published her story, MP Kazi Nabil wanted to meet her.
During the meeting MP Nabil exchanged pleasantries with the three of them, and empathizing with her situation assured that he will help them in any way he can.
Shammi Akhtar after she won a gold medal in the 2010 South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh | Collected
“Players are an asset to our country,” he said adding: “Players like Shammi uphold the country all over the world. Everyone should stand by their side.”
He listened to Shammi Akhtar intently and said that he would build a house for Shammi and her children at any suitable union of Jessore sadar. He assured that he will talk to relevant officials soon.
He also announced providing a lump sum of Tk50,000 and a monthly stipend of Tk5,000 for her children to continue their education.
Shammi Akhter, grateful for MP Nabil’s assurance, said: "I never thought he would take such an action for me and my children so swiftly. Thinking that I will be able to live peacefully with my children with a roof above our heads brought tears to my eyes.”
Shammi Akter is one of the players who won a gold medal in Taekwondo in the 2010 SA Games that took place in Dhaka.
She also competed in the Guangzhou Asian Games and the Chennai Commonwealth Taekwondo Championship.
She has earned a black belt and has won four times in the national championships. She played for Bangladesh Ansar in the domestic games quite commendably.
She got married on June 5, 2009, to Saiful Islam, an Army soldier and taekwondo player.
Later, due to physical problems, she left the sport following doctor’s advice and started looking after her family.
However, on August 18, 2018, Saiful was killed by robbers at her father-in-law's house in Sarojganj Bankia, Jhenaidah.
Her life turned upside down after that.
