Passing the BCS exam against all odds
Sadat Hossain had only three shirts throughout high school. He and his father earned a humble living by selling firewood.
Noor Payara Begum maintained her education expenses on private tuition. She stayed in the mess. From the beginning they lived in poverty. But poverty could not hold them back. They had the moral courage to go ahead. They crossed every step of student life with success.
This young couple from Banshkhali of Chattogram have excelled. Both of them passed the 38th BCS examination, while looking after their family and child.
My father was a wood-cutter. None of my family was educated. If anyone an educated woman married anyone in the neighbourhood, my mother would request her to teach me. In exchange, she sent them curry or something else. When I was in class eight, I sold firewood in the market. At that time, I was deeply ashamed. I had no proper clothes for school. Teachers bought me clothes.
Noor Peara Begum has ranked 15th in administration cadre while her husband has ranked 123th in the same cadre. Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) published the final results of 38th BCS examination.
This couple married in 2019 and they have a six-month-old baby.
They are the residents of Duaripara village of Sadhonpur union of Banshkhali upazila. They started their education in village schools. Sadat Hossain completed his Higher Secondary School (HSC) from Mohsin College in Chattogram. Later he completed Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Dhaka University. Noor Payara Begum completed graduation (honours) and post-graduation in Applied Physics from Chattogram University. She stood 4th in honours and second in masters.
Meanwhile, both of them have jobs. Through the 35th BCS (non-cadre), Sadat Hossain is now assistant director of BRTA in Chattogram division. Noor Payara Begum joined in the First Security Islamic Bank in Dhaka. After two months of her service, she returned to Chattogram on maternity leave. She could not return to the bank due to BCS viva voce and family preoccupations.
Sadar Hossain said, "My father was a wood-cutter. None of my family was educated. If anyone an educated woman married anyone in the neighbourhood, my mother would request her to teach me. In exchange, she sent them curry or something else. When I was in class eight, I sold firewood in the market. At that time, I was deeply ashamed. I had no proper clothes for school. Teachers bought me clothes."
Noor Payara Begum has two sisters. There was no educated person in their family. Their mother schooled the three of them on loans from the neighbours.
She said, “I studied with hardship. I still have not been able to repay all the loans taken by my mother.”
My wife was good at in science subjects. I was good at in business and English. We have helped each other. We studied till 2 to 3am.
Noor Payara stayed in the hall while studying in Chattogram University. She got admitted in a coaching centre for BCS in Chattogram city in 2017. He stayed in a mess in Chawkbazar area.
She studied in the library of the coaching centre till evening. She returned to the mess with essentials and cooked food and started reading again.
About the success, Sadat Hossain said, “My wife was good at in science subjects. I was good at in business and English. We helped each other. We studied till 2 to 3am. Noor Payara Begum said, “I was pregnant when I attended the viva voce. Sadat cooperated all the time.”
About the preparation BCS examination, both of them said it is not possible to pass BCS examinations without hard work and patience. One has to work hard for several years at a stretch. They said they want to do something for Banshkhali.
Those who forget their roots can never be good human beings, this couple believes.
*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.