Imran's Journey Back to Education

Imran Hossain, a resident of slum near rail-station in Nowapara, lived with his parents and younger brother. Imran's father worked as a daily wage laborer in a restaurant. It was difficult for the family to meet their basic needs with his meager wages. So, Imran's parents often quarrel. One day, after a quarrel, his father left home and never returned. The entire responsibility of the family fell on his mother's shoulders.

When Imran was in the second grade, his mother fell ill, plunging his family into extreme poverty. They often went without food for days. Imran disliked going to school on an empty stomach and felt miserable when he returned home to find no food. Apart from the lack of food, he also faced a shortage of school supplies like notebooks, pens, uniforms, bags, and shoes. Despite his strong desire to study, Imran had to drop out of school and start working. The young boy began working at a fish market. Working long hours at the fish market, he earned only 100 taka a day. Imran suffered greatly working at the fish market. His hands and feet were often covered in sores from prolonged exposure to water. But he couldn't stop working, as his family would starve if he did.

There was a ARKTF's Child Forum near Imran's workplace. This forum held monthly meetings. Imran would occasionally attend these meetings and observe the proceedings. He enjoyed the activities of the Child Forum and expressed his desire to become a member. Following the necessary procedures, ARKTF granted Imran membership in the Child Forum. After becoming a member, Imran attended every monthly meeting of the Child Forum. One day, while attending a meeting, an ARKTF worker asked who wanted to go to school. Imran expressed his desire to go to school. He also mentioned that although he wanted to go to school, his poverty made it impossible.

The ARKTF worker discussed Imran's interest in going to school with Imran's mother. Imran's mother said, "We also want to send Imran to school. But we can't afford school uniforms, bags, shoes, socks." When ARKTF offered to arrange for Imran's school supplies, Imran's mother agreed to enroll him in school. ARKTF enrolled Imran in Shahid Nazibar Government School and provided him with a school uniform, bag, shoes, socks, and belt. They also spoke to the headmaster and arranged for a reduced tuition fee.

With the help of ARKTF, Imran's mother was provided free medical treatment at the Nowapara Upazila Health Complex. As his mother recovered and started working, Imran had no difficulty continuing his studies. Imran, focused on his studies, now attends school regularly. He doesn't want to return to those difficult days of the past. Upon completing his studies, he wants to contribute to the spread of education in the country and society.