<i>A story of poverty, success</i>
Shohag Hossain never studied at night in preparation for his SSC examination.
This was not out of choice but due to the fact that his poverty-stricken family could not afford kerosene to light a lamp at night.
But Shohag did not give in to the factors trying to control and limit his life. Today he stands proud having secured GPA-5 in the current year's SSC examination, from the humanities section, from Benapole Secondary School.
All the while the young boy worked as a labourer alongside his studies to help his family financially.
Shohag is the youngest of two sons and two daughters of day labourer Ali Ahmed. His elder brother never had an opportunity to go to school and works as a sweeper.
His struggle, however, is not over and now he faces another hurdle to enroll in a college, a prospect quite beyond his family's ability.
The grim prospects haven't hindered the dreams of this golden boy from Gatipara in Benapole and he hopes to be a teacher in a university one day.
"I usually manage on one meal a day. And I manage by drinking water whenever I feel hungry," Shohag said describing the poverty in his family.
Neighbours and classmates described how the young boy struggled without books at school. His teachers collected money from other students in the school and bought him some books. The school also waived his school fees.
"He is the pride of our village," Shohag's neighbours say, taking pride in his brilliant results.
"I am grateful to my parents and neighbours for whatever I have achieved till date," Shohag said.
"It is not possible for Shohag's family to send him to college, though he has everyone's blessings to continue his studies. He has already applied to the government for financial assistance," Momin Uddin, headmaster Benapole Secondary School, said.
“Affluent people should try and think what they can do to help a brilliant boy like Shohag ,” the headmaster added.
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