Photo : BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, July 3, 2026 (BSS)- Every day, schoolgirl Ratna Biswas had to walk 
nearly 3.5 kilometers from home to go to school. 

A resident of the Christian Para area in Rajshahi's Paba upazila, Ratna is a 
sixth-grade student at USEF Rajshahi Technical School. 

Her father works as a mason. In a family struggling with poverty, buying a 
bicycle for their daughter was nearly impossible. As a result, Ratna had to 
walk to school for a long time.
 
But now, much of that hardship has eased after she received a bicycle as a 
gift from the government.

Ratna expressed her joy upon receiving the new bicycle this morning at a 
programme held in the Paba Upazila Parishad conference room to distribute 
bicycles, educational scholarships, and sewing machines.
 
Sharing her feelings, Ratna said, "My father is a mason and we are very poor. 
My father couldn't afford to buy me a bicycle. Walking to school would make 
me an hour late. I'm so happy to get a bicycle from the government. Now I can 
reach to school in just 10 minutes."
 
Ratna said she often grew tired walking the long distance to school. Many 
times, she couldn't reach on time, which affected her studies.
 
With her bicycle now, she hopes to attend school regularly and on time. "The 
hardship of commuting is gone. Now I'll be able to study better and with more 
focus," Ratna said.
 
Not just Ratna - Imon Tudu, a student of Kashba High School, also received a 
new bicycle at the same event.
 
He, too, had to walk to school for a long time. His poor father couldn't 
afford to buy him a bicycle. Imon and his family expressed joy at receiving 
the new bicycle. From now on, Imon can ride to school with ease.
     
Advocate Shafiqul Haque Milon, MP, distributed bicycles, educational 
scholarships, and sewing machines among students and families from ethnic 
minority communities as the chief guest.
 
In his speech, he said the government is working to encourage students from 
marginalized and disadvantaged communities to pursue education. 
Emphasis is being placed on ensuring that no student drops out due to 
financial hardship. A bicycle can not only ease a student's commute to school 
but also add new motivation to their academic life. 

He urged the students to study diligently and build themselves into capable 
individuals.
 
This assistance is being provided under the Development Assistance Program 
implemented by the Prime Minister's Office to improve the living standards of 
small ethnic groups, he added.

Bicycles and scholarships for students will make their path to education 
easier. 

Meanwhile, sewing machines and housing assistance will contribute to the 
socioeconomic development of the families.
 
He also said the upazila administration will provide necessary monitoring to 
ensure proper use of this assistance.
 
The meeting was chaired by Paba Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ibnul Abedin.
 
In his speech, he said the government's Development Assistance Programme is 
supporting students and families from marginalized communities. This aid is 
not just immediate relief but will play an important role in shaping the 
students' futures.
 
He urged the students and families who received assistance to ensure proper 
use of these resources.
 
Organised by the Paba Upazila Administration, the programme provided bicycles 
to 18 students, sewing machines to 12 people, housing to 4, and educational 
scholarships to 120 students. 

A total of Taka 27.11 lakh in development assistance was provided under these 
initiatives.
 
Raj Kumar Shaw, senior vice president of the Central Committee of the Jatiya 
Adivasi Parishad, Abdur Razzak, member secretary of Paba Upazila BNP and its 
Joint Convener Sultan Ahmed were present, among others.