It was around 6:56 pm on Monday when Tamanna Akter Noora, who secured GPA-5 in this year’s HSC examination writing on one foot, was preparing for her study.
Suddenly a call came on WhatsApp. She received the call and heard that a voice on the other side of the phone was saying “I am Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Am I talking to Tamanna?”
Tamanna was surprised to hear the voice on the other side of the phone. Then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated her. Tamanna became speechless for a while. At one point she started crying. The prime minister told her not to cry.
Tamanna stopped crying and greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While talking to the premier, Tamanna wanted to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and asked for her (premier's) support to fulfill her dream.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pledged to remain beside Tamanna to fulfill her dream. She asked Tamanna to submit an application to the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assured Tamanna of providing all-out cooperation through the trust.
In a four-minute conversation with Tamanna, the prime minister forbade her to lose courage more than once, saying “If you (Tamanna) have courage and morale, you will be able to reach unique heights”.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana called Tamanna’s WhatsApp number around 4:30 pm from London. When Tamanna received the call, the voice on the other side of the phone said, “I am Sheikh Rehana from London. Am I talking to Tamanna Noora?”
Then Tamanna started crying. Sheikh Rehena asked her to stop crying and congratulated Tamanna for her excellent results.
“I heard about your struggle. You are very brave. You go ahead. We will support you as long as we, the two sisters, are alive. Those who have the courage never give up,” Sheikh Rehana said.
Tamanna Akter Noora is the daughter of Raushan Ali and Khadija Parveen artist couple of Bankra Alipur village in Jhikargachha upazila of Jashore. She achieved GPA-5 in every examinations - Primary Education Completion Examination (PEC), Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Secondary School Certificate (SSC) by writing on one foot. Following her successes, she also secured GPA-5 in this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination.
Earlier, On January 24 last, Tamanna wrote a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stating her two dreams, including meeting the premier.
Tamanna is very happy to talk to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana over phone.
“At first I got panicked,” she said, “My heart was trembling with sweet emotion. It seemed that history has been created in my life. I can't explain the feeling to you. I was so happy that I couldn't help but laugh and cry.”
“I wanted to tell my life's story directly to the prime minister. It seems she didn't talk much because she was busy. But she told me to study regularly and take care of myself,” Tamanna said.
Tamanna's father Raushan Ali said her daughter had written a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 24 at the advice of Jashore Deputy Commissioner.
The letter, written by Tamanna, was first sent to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) through the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and then through Jashore Deputy Commissioner Tamizul Islam Khan.
“At the same time, various pictures drawn by Tamanna were also given with the letter…Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana have spoken to Tamanna about the infinite mercy of the Most Merciful God. Hopefully, with the blessings of everyone, Tamanna will be able to fulfill her dream,” Raushan Ali said.
Tamanna is the eldest of the three children of Raushan Ali and Khadija Parveen. Tamanna’s father Raushan Ali is a teacher at Chhota Poudaulia Mahila Dakhil Madrasa (NonMPO) in Jhikargachha upazila and her mother Khadija Parveen is a housewife.
Tamanna’s younger sister Mumtahina Rashmi is a sixth grader and her brother Muhibullah Taj is in class one.