For Jharna humanity overcame social norms

Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandaker hands over a crest to Jharna Begum at the police headquarters in the capital yesterday as a mark of gratitude for her humanitarian act. Jharna rescued a policeman from the brutality of Shibir activists in Rajshahi city on April 1. Photo: Star

Urging all young women to come forward for saving humanity, Jharna Begum yesterday said she did not care about her gender or possible social criticism while rescuing the policeman Jahangir Alam from the brutality of Shibir activists.
"I took off my scarf and with it I tied his wounds in the head and took him in my chest to drag him onto a van for hospital," said 28-year-old Jharna. "As a young woman I was well aware that I would have to face social criticism, and later I faced it bravely.
"As appreciations poured in for my humanitarian deed, my female neighbours realised that my work was only for a human being," she told The Daily Star.
Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandaker yesterday awarded her with a crest and an admiration letter at the police headquarters in Dhaka as a mark of gratitude for her help to Jahangir, sub-inspector of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP).
Jahangir was wildly assaulted by Islami Chhatra Shibir men at Shalbagan in Rajshahi city on April 1.
"The mother rose in me and I took his head on my lap on the way to hospital only to feel whether he was breathing," said Jharna, her voice breaking with sobs.
Deserted by her husband around four years back, the mother of two was earning her livelihood by working in a local beauty parlour.
Jharna said the Rajshahi mayor and the local ward commissioner promised her a job at Rajshahi City Corporation, and RMP gave her a house.