For Md Nasiruddin of Jhalakathi, perseverance is a long word for a simple idea: never giving up. The extraordinary student has fought the oppressive elements of the society and held them to a standoff by enrolling in a Master's programme which he is paying for by pulling a rickshaw. 

Born into a poor family of seven children, Nasiruddin covered his living and educational costs working as a tutor but when his father fell ill, the responsibility of supporting his family fell on his shoulders. Unshakable by the stigma that is often attached to physical labour, he took up rickshaw pulling.  

What's remarkable about him is the fact that he studied in a Madrasa—scoring GPA 4 in both Dakhil and Alim exams—before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English from Suhrawardy College in Pirojpur. It proves that his quest for knowledge is continuous and not confined to one particular area. Although he misses a lot of classes for obvious reasons, he makes sure to visit his department on a regular basis to borrow books.

His is a journey based on courage, determination and persistence. While the society offered him no lifelines, acted on no principles, Nasiruddin acted wholly on distinctions, principles, and one supposes, of faith. It does not take a lot of resources to help promising young people like him. The affluent in the area should provide him with a decent job or a scholarship. And his college can give him special dispensation to allow him to attend classes and learn.