Rajshahi, July 24 (V7N) – Amid adversity and with a heart full of dreams, Sonia Khatun, a young woman from Dhopapara village in Rajshahi’s Puthia Upazila, continues her academic journey despite having only one leg. Sonia's life is filled with struggle, yet her resilience to overcome hardships and her dream to become a teacher shine brightly.

“My mother works as a manual laborer in the village. My little brother does masonry work. My father suffers from mental health issues and roams around the streets. I walk by hopping on one foot. It’s painful, but still, I walk. I walk to college and even teach private tuition. There’s no other option. I bought a prosthetic leg with a loan from an NGO, but it broke. Now, I need a new leg and a job. I don’t want my mother to work anymore if I get a job,” Sonia shared, describing the daily struggles she faces.

Sonia’s family has no land of their own and they live in a small tin-roofed house on someone else’s land. They had a house before, but they had to sell it to afford medical treatment after her accident. Despite living in poverty, Sonia’s eyes sparkle with hope, courage, and determination.

Sonia completed her SSC from Dhopapara Girls High School, and her HSC (BM) from Puthia Laskarpur Degree College. Currently, she is a second-year student in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) program at Dhopapara Memorial Degree College. Her ambition is to become a teacher. However, the biggest obstacle in her way is her missing leg.

In 2020, Sonia received a prosthetic leg with the help of a one-lakh-taka donation and a 75,000-taka loan from an NGO. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.

Sonia was born in 2003, and at the age of two, her life took a tragic turn. While traveling with her mother and aunt to her aunt’s house in Naogaon, a train ran over Sonia and her aunt, Mamata Begum, who tragically died on the spot. Sonia’s right leg and several fingers on her left hand were severed.

Seeing this horrifying accident, Sonia’s mother, Rahima Begum, lost consciousness. Sonia was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, while Rahima was taken to the District Hospital. The shocking incident led to Sonia’s father, Mujibur Sheikh, losing his mental balance, and he now wanders the streets. As a result, all the responsibility of the family fell on Rahima’s shoulders. Eight years ago, Rahima married off their eldest daughter, Marzina Khatun. Despite Sonia’s disability, she continues her education.

Rahima shared, “I work at people’s homes, dig soil on the streets—whatever I get helps the family survive. One day, Sonia said, ‘Mom, I want to go to school.’ She passed Class Five and later enrolled in college. I made up my mind—I will ensure she gets a master’s degree. If only Sonia could get a job, it would ease our burdens.”

Sonia’s story caught the attention of the local authorities. AKM Nur Hossain Nirjhor, the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) of Puthia, expressed his support, saying, “I wasn’t aware of Sonia’s situation, but I will cover all of her education-related expenses and any other costs she might have. We will ensure she has the resources to continue her studies.”

Sonia’s journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Despite facing physical limitations and a challenging life, her perseverance and dreams keep her going. For Sonia, education is not just a means of personal advancement, but a beacon of hope for her family’s future.

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