49 schoolgirls get bicycles

Forty-nine female students of seven secondary schools in Hatibandha upazila under the district have got bicycles for easy communication to and from school, thanks to the initiative of the Mutual Trust Bank (MTB).

Under the bank's Social Responsibility Programme titled Swapno Sarathi, officials distributed the bicycles free of cost among the schoolgirls at a programme at Sindurna village of Hatibandha upazila yesterday noon.

The beneficiaries, poor and meritorious girl students, belong to Shah Garibullah High School, Bichhandai Azizur Rahman High School, Borderhat High School, Barakhata Girls' High School, Gotamari Girls' High School, Gaddimari High School and Tangbhanga Mahila Madrasa in Hatibandha upazila.

"I am very happy to get a bicycle as now I can go to school and return home with ease. I will take care of the bicycle," said Arpita Islam, a Class VI student of Shah Garibullah High School.

"The bicycle given by Mutual Trust Bank will encourage me to study properly as I will not face transport problem to attend classes," said Purnima Rani, a student of Class VII at Borderhat High School.

Tabibar Rahman, headmaster of Shah Garibullah High School, said providing bicycles for the poor and meritorious girls attending school from distant places is a good initiative to encourage girls' education in the area.

"As part of social responsibility, the bank authority allocated bicycles for meritorious and poor schoolgirls to encourage their study and enable them to fight social evils. MTB authorities will continue their support for development of women's education in the country," said Mohammad Sami Al Hafiz, chief communication officer of MTB.