Will her dream come true?

Amid smiling villagers congratulating her for achieving 'golden' GPA-5 in the SSC examinations, Akhimoni Akhter remains calm, thinking about the finances for her higher education.

Akhimoni, daughter of landless Ali Azam and Joynob Nesa of Gaddimari village of Hatibandha upazila in Teesta River basin area of Lalmonirhat, had to struggle much to reach this stage, as they are burdened with poverty and family problems.

Her mentally ill father has remained missing for years while she and her mother sew clothes for livelihood, staying at the house of Shafiar Rahman, a local.

Her mother Joynob Nesa said, "I earn Tk 80-100 from sewing clothes daily, which is hardly enough for maintaining our livelihood. Still I dream to arrange higher education for my daughter.”

Akhimoni appeared in this year's SSC examinations from humanities group as a student of Gaddimari High School in Hatibandha.

"By obtaining 'golden' GPA-5 in SSC, Akhi has brought glory for the school. She had also got A+ and scholarships in Primary Terminal and Junior School Certificate examinations," said Atoar Rahman, headmaster of the school.

“I always made proper use of my time and studied regularly. I want to get higher education. I have a dream to be a doctor and bring smile to the society in my poverty-stricken area," said a confident Akhimoni.

But the struggling girl needs financial support to pursue her dream.