Tale of a dedicated mother

Bina Begum, 30, mother of three speech and hearing impaired children from the husband with the same problem, has set a laudable example of dedication and patience to bring happiness for the family.  

She arranged schooling for her children as she strongly believes that education can help them to overcome the congenital challenges and live in the society with honour. 

Bina, fifth among seven sisters and one brother, was born to a poor couple at Anayetpur village in Tangail Sadar upazila. When her father died at her childhood her mother's struggle to maintain the family got more serious.

At the age of 15, Bina was married to speech and hearing impaired Jahangir Ali of Pashchimpara village in Ghatail upazila.

Bina, however, felt happy that time as Jahangir, then 25, was a handsome youth.

A cute girl was born to the couple after one year but months later, Bina understand that her daughter was born with the same problems like her husband.

After four years, she gave birth to a beautiful son but also with the same problems.

Bina decided to help her children overcome the adversity by arranging education for them.

She admitted her elder daughter Jahanara to a school for disabled children at Chandushi area in Ghatail municipal area. She later admitted her son Hridoy to the same school.

Bina, who gave birth to another speech and hearing impaired daughter after a few years, is also reading at the same school now.

"Bina's elder daughter Jahanara, now 14, had completed her primary schooling from my school. Now she reads at Class VIII at SE Pilot Girls' High School in Ghatail," said Rafiqul Bari Khan, director of the school for disabled children.

"Her second son Hridoy, 10, and younger daughter Tania, 7, are currently reading in my school at Class V and Class II respectively. They learn their lessons with the help of sign language," said Rafiqul, himself a visually impaired person.

“As far as I know, their problems are due to genetic disorder and it is not curable. I salute Bina for her decision to take education as the tool for making her children self-reliant,” he added. 

This correspondent recently visited their tin-shed house on four decimals of land at Pashchimpara village in Ghatail.

"I never took my children to doctor for treatment. I have left the matter to Allah. Although hearing and speech impaired, my children are energetic and they love playing. Their school teachers, relatives and neighbours have sympathy for them,” said Bina.  

“Now my younger daughter is getting Tk 3000 and husband Tk 6000 per year as allowance for disabled from the social welfare department.

“My husband likes cattle rearing and he got an ox from his late father. I have bought another ox after taking Tk 40,000 as loan from a local NGO.

“My husband is a day labourer but he cannot work regularly due to sickness. I have to work at others' house as domestic help to pay Tk 800 per week as the instalment for the loan,” she said.

Babul Miah, a relative and neighbour of the family, said the poor family will be benefited if they get support from government and individuals.