Sarker Shariful Islam, Rajshahi
A local Union Parishad Member in Rajshahi district named Tashem Ali set a rare example of communal harmony by extending all-out life-time support to help survive a distressed Hindu family. In a Muslim dominated society establishing secular society to its truest meaning is also difficult especially when he or she is a public representative in the local administration.
Defying all possible criticisms, especially from Islamic scholars, Tasqem braced the distressed mother and daughter and showed love and affection by taking full responsibility of their livelihood. The story goes that after murder of her only elder sister and death of her father, life of Kanchona Rani Das of village Mohipur-Dhainagar under Gobratola union of Chapainawbganj district shrouded into darkness as she with her mother had been scuttling for their survival.
As for the Hindu rituals in their caste system, none of the local Hindus extended helping hand to Kanchona and her mother even seeing them leading a miserable life virtually begging for survival. Even, Kanchona's relatively well-off uncles did not show up for unknown reasons.
Apparently, both Kanchona and her mother Sreemoti Anjali Rani, found pottery works to buy scanty meals and survive. After working hard, virtually all day long, Kanchona and her mother barely earned about Taka 70 everyday, scarcely enough to fetch daily nutrition. In such a situation they often had to starve when the manual work was not available for the day or even sometimes for days.
The news of their hardship reached the local Union Parishad Member Tashem Ali who instantly expressed his willingness to extend help and stand beside the abandoned mother and daughter. He announced to help both and took responsibility of Kanchona and her mother Anjali Rani and freed them from the curse.
As time passed, Tashem Ali, a well-respected man in the locality, developed a father-daughter relationship with Kanchona. Meanwhile, Ali decided to send Kanchona to school and college for her formal education.
After completion of her grade 12 education Ali raised her in his house to be a member of his family for the last four-years. Ali then married her off to a groom on the night of last February-16 at a lavish ceremony where several hundred guests were invited to witness the wedding ceremony.
While talking to the Bangladesh Post, Tashem Ali, said, “At first I was in doubt whether my family would accept Kanchona if I had taken her to my house. But when I narrated to them about their miserable condition being abandoned by the society, my family readily accepted Kanchona. It was indeed a happy occasion.”
He concluded that he will never forget Kanchona as she is his daughter. “I often miss her and feel emptiness within me from her absence but in the end I am so glad that I was able to find her a wealthy and well-behaved husband. I am sure they would live a happy life ever after.”
