<i>An extraordinary Maisha wins hearts of all</i>

Maisha Marium receives the prize for best performance in extempore speech at the English language fair held at Seroil Government High School in Rajshahi city on Saturday. Photo: STAR

"I never consider myself as a physically challenged person. Rather, I am proud to be able to overcome the situation," said class ten student Maisha Marium, who won the first prize in extempore speech competition in the English language fair held at Seroil Government High School in Rajshahi city on Saturday.
She has been suffering from diabetes from her early life, but driven by sheer will power she has defied the challenge to continue her studies with an aim to become an English teacher of a university.
A student of Shaheed Nazmul Haque Girls' High School in Rajshahi city, Maisha, 15, also won in the quiz competition on 'situation-based question answer' in the fair held under English in Schools programme, a joint initiative of The Daily Star and mobile operator Robi, on Saturday.
At the programme, she impressed the audience with her attractive presentation.
She has acquired extraordinary skills in English language, in addition to her mother tongue Bangla.
She has also great taste and knack of music.
During an interview with this correspondent yesterday, she played her favourite mouth organ with the patriotic song 'Ei Padma, Ei Meghna, Ei Jamuna Surma Nodir Teere...'.
She also excellently sang renowned English song of John Denver 'He was born in the summer of his 27th year, Comin' home to a place he'd never...'.
She can recite the holy Quran very nicely.
She achieved score 5 out of 5 on English reading, writing, speaking and listening in the competition of Cambridge Young Learners English Starters organised in Dhaka by the University of Cambridge in 2004.
Nabila Khatun, English teacher of Shaheed Nazmul Haque Girls' High School, said Maisha is a punctual and ideal student although she could not attend classes regularly due to her physical condition.
"My sister is the greatest inspiration to me in the world," said Maisha's younger brother Syed Mahadi Zaman Argha, a student of class eight.
Expressing pride for their only daughter, Maisha's father Syed Shahid Hossain, a businessman, and mother Amina Abedin, associate professor of English department of Rajshahi College, said they always give priority to Maisha's wishes and inspire her to succeed in study and other matters.