Age should not stop one from learning. One can pursue education at any age if there is a will. A mother of five has proved this by getting enrolled in Class-I along with her youngest child in a primary school in Sadar upazila here.   Taslima Begum, 35, wife of rickshaw-puller Golam Hossain, and their son Masum Hossain, 6, have got admitted to No. 46 Akania Govt Primary School. They received their textbooks on January 1 when the entire country celebrated the textbook festival.   After the admission, both the mother and the son are passing busy time with their studies.   Taslima was married off to Golam Hossain at an early age for which she could not continue her education. She, however, used to nurture deep in her heart a great interest for education.   Talking to UNB, Taslima said she took the decision to get enrolled in school in order to become a good housewife as she had to face criticisms for lack of education on various occasions.   “I’ve a dream to be a social worker to serve the community in the future, and my study will help me fulfill my dream. I think it’s possible to have education at any age.”   Chairman of Sadar upazila parishad Shahjahan Shishir inspired Taslima when he learned about her enormous interest about study.   Obayedur Rahman, headmaster of the school, said the textbooks were distributed among students, including Taslima and her son Masum, on the first day of the New Year when the upazila parishad chairman was present there.   Speaking on the occasion, Shahjahan Shishir urged the school authorities to provide Taslima the same opportunity that other students avail themselves of.   He also took the responsibility of the studies of the mother and son, saying, “I’ll bear all the educational expenses of Taslima and her son as long as they study.”   District Primary Education Officer Mohammad Sahabuddin said they are working relentlessly to root out illiteracy from the country by 2041 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “I think we should create the opportunity for Taslima and support her because she is showing a great interest in study,” he said.

Senior teacher Abul Bashar and Hafez Ahmed said Taslima is one of the oldest students in the district. “But we cordially welcome her deep interest to learn,” said Bashar.