Masters degree at 72

A 72-year-old retired teacher from Pabna proved that it is never too late to learn and achieve as he passed his Masters examinations with the best score in his batch.

Md Rawshan Ali appeared in the MSS final examination last year and achieved a CGPA of 3.35 out of 4.

"I tried my best for a good result, but this is beyond my expectation," Rawshan said after getting his results earlier this month.

Born in 1948 in Bannaipara village in Chhartarapur union of Pabna Sadar upazila, Rawshan passed his SSC exams in 1966 and HSC in 1970 before joining Shahid Dulal Pilot High School in Pabna's Sujanagar upazila as an assistant teacher in 1972.

He studied privately to get a Bachelor's degree from Pabna Edward College in 1984 but did not complete his Masters degree.

Otherwise a successful man, Rawshan had one source of dissatisfaction -- that he did not pursue his education to a higher level. He could not do it because of his professional and familial responsibilities, but eventually his will to achieve his aims triumphed.

"Due to the pressure of job and family, I did not get the scope to complete my university degree. I was satisfied with my life, other than [the lack of] the highest university degree," Rawshan Ali told the Daily Star.

"After retirement in 2008, I tried to get admitted to a university but was unable to do it. Finally, I got admitted in the evening Masters course in the department of social work at Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) in the 2017-18 session," he said.

"This outstanding result brings no profit for me at this stage of life, but it does bring fulfilment. I believe there is no limit to getting educated," Rawshan said. "My family members supported me in learning at this old age."

Talking to the Daily Star, Awal Kabir Joy, head of the department of social work at PUST, said this is not just the best result of the batch, but also an inspiration for future students.

"Rawshan Ali is the senior-most student in the university. At the age of 72, he had the strength of mind and was able to achieve the best result of this batch. As a teacher I feel proud of him," Joy said.