The Daily Star Awardee: Lighting the way

Rashid, 61, who could study up to 10th grade, decided to establish a school for the children in Dakkhin Dalgram, his village, about 40km from the district headquarters. 

With help from the villagers, he built the Kaliganj Pratibandhi Bidyalay in 2011 on a piece of land with bamboo, corrugated tin and wood. 

Now, the school has more than 200 students. 

"Farmer Abdur Rashid is a lighthouse for our children," said Selina Begum, whose 12-year-old physically challenged daughter is a student of the school. 

Selina said she has been bringing her daughter to the school for the past three years because the school makes the child smile every day. 

"It's nice to see my daughter smiling and learning," she said. 

Every day, many parents like Selina bring their differently-abled children to the school from remote villages. 

At Rashid's school, the students include physically and intellectually challenged children, along with children with visual impairment and with autism. 

Rashid said he wants to help the children with special needs and turn their dreams into a reality. 

"I feel happy when the children read," he said, adding he will continue the school even he needs to sell his remaining assets. 

The school provides education up to the fifth grade. Several of its past students are now studying at the tenth grade in other schools. 

Seeing Rashid's noble work, some villagers came to support him and some of them are now voluntarily teaching at the school. 

Rashid runs the school on his own and occasionally seeks support from neighbours and relatives for the cause. 

A father of four daughters, Rashid is the lone bread-earner off his family. He grows crops and vegetables on some pieces of land.