Determined student in Matlab balances college classes and auto-rickshaw driving to support family and education
Photo Collected
Eighteen-year-old Nazim Pradhan, a college student in Matlab South Upazila, is defying financial hardship by working as an autorickshaw driver to fund his education and support his ailing parents. Despite the challenges of balancing a rigorous academic schedule with the demands of his job, the first-year business management student remains determined to complete his studies and escape the cycle of poverty.
Nazim, a resident of Uttar Dighaldi village, completed his secondary education last year from Boalia High School. Upon enrolling at Matlab Government College, he faced immediate pressure to cover his educational expenses while contributing to his family’s livelihood. To secure a consistent income, he took a loan of 200,000 taka from a local non-governmental organization to purchase an autorickshaw.
The young student’s daily routine is demanding. On college days, he attends classes until the afternoon before taking his vehicle onto the streets, often driving until 10 p.m. On weekends, he operates his autorickshaw from the morning. He earns an average of 700 to 800 taka per day, a portion of which is dedicated to repaying his monthly loan installment of 3,000 taka, while the remainder covers his personal academic costs and household necessities.
His family situation is precarious; his parents, Osman Gani and Kulsuma Begum, are elderly and in poor health. With no ancestral land to rely on, the burden of supporting his parents and his younger sister, who lives with a mental disability, has fallen largely on Nazim. His elder brother, a day laborer, struggles to maintain his own separate household.
Nazim’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by his academic instructors. Bipul Chandra Saha, a lecturer in the business management department at Matlab Government College, described Nazim as a diligent and polite student whose commitment to his education, despite his circumstances, demonstrates remarkable resilience.
Recognizing the student’s struggle, Matlab South Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) KM Ishmam has pledged financial assistance to support Nazim’s education. For now, the autorickshaw remains the primary bridge between Nazim’s current reality and his long-term goal of obtaining a stable, professional career. Undeterred by his circumstances, Nazim maintains a firm resolve to continue his education, aiming to improve his family’s living conditions and secure a better future.
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