How Rikta Akter Banu’s school transforming the lives of special children

“O ki gaariyal bhai, hakao gaari tui Chilmari Bandar-”

For decades, this Bhawaiya music has defined Chilmari, a place famous for its folk songs. Today, this town has another identity along with it. It has a school named “Rikta Akter Banu Learning Disability School,” a home to nearly 300 children who have special needs. Once hidden away in their homes, these children are also a part of society today. The woman leading this change is Rikta Akter Banu, a mother and nurse who decided no child should be left unheard.

Turning Rejection into Action

Years ago, Rikta faced a moment that would break most parents. Her daughter, a child with special needs, was rejected and insulted by educational institutions. They didn’t see a student; they saw a burden.

"I cannot express that feeling in words," Rikta recalls. "It was just a lot of pain."

But Rikta is not just a mother; she is a warrior. She watched her daughter dress up, put on a school bag, and try to follow other children to school, only to be stopped. That was the turning point. In 2009, Rikta and her husband made a life-changing decision. They decided to build a school on their own land where no child would ever be told "no."

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From "Crazy School" to Community Pride

The beginning was not smooth. Rikta, her husband, and a few others worked themselves to lay the foundation of the school. They faced mockery from the locals, who called it the "crazy school." Finding teachers was another hurdle.

Rikta’s dedication as a professional nurse and a mother never wavered. She and her husband would ride their motorcycle through the village, her daughter sitting between them, searching for other children with special needs. She would sit with parents, explaining that their children weren't curses, but gifts that needed care.

Slowly, the tide turned. Today, the "crazy school" is the pride of Chilmari. Rickshaw pullers who once mocked the students now stop to help them. The community that once looked away now looks on with respect. Her efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2023, she was named one of the BBC 100 Women, a global recognition that she views as a win for all of Bangladesh. "This honour belongs to our district, our country, and these children," she says.

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More Than Just Lessons

The school is more than a place for books; it’s a home. The children learn sign language, music, dancing, and even sports like cricket and football. One of the most meaningful aspects of the school is the "Mid-day Meal." Rikta ensures the children are fed well, though she has one strict rule: no fish. "I don’t have the courage," she explains. "I worry a bone might get stuck in a child's throat." Instead, they enjoy meat, eggs, and lentils.

A Dream for the Future

Many children live across the river and struggle to attend daily. Rikta’s next big dream is to build a residential facility—a safe place where these children can live, learn, and gain vocational skills like sewing and mechanics.

"The desire is there, but the means are not," she admits. She has made an earnest appeal to the government and charitable individuals to support mid-day meals and residential buildings for special needs schools across the country.

Rikta Akter Banu’s story is a reminder that one person’s refusal to accept "no" can change hundreds of lives. To anyone wanting to start a brave initiative, her message is simple: "Come forward. If you start with good intentions, a path will open. When you stand by someone, your own life becomes beautiful."