Photo: Collected
Some 548 meritorious schoolgirls from Shibganj and Mokamtala upazilas in Bogura received pink bicycles on Sunday (25 October). Instead of cutting a cake and celebrating, Mir Shahe Alam MP, state minister for local government, rural development and cooperatives, marked Barrister Zaima Rahman’s birthday by giving gifts to students and arranging medical treatment for underprivileged people.
The event began at 11am on the Shibganj Pilot High School ground. Alongside the bicycles, mugs printed with Zaima Rahman’s photograph were handed to 1,500 students.
Zaima Rahman is the daughter of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Dr Zubaida Rahman. The stated aims of the initiative marking her birthday are to advance women’s education, make it easier for girls to travel to and from school and encourage them in their studies. The organisers expect the bicycles to ease the girls’ travel difficulties and also improve regular school attendance.
At noon the same day, eye treatment and cataract operations continued for a second straight day on the ground of Aliarhat Rokeya-Chhattar High School in Shibganj. On the first day, 2,000 people received free eye treatment in Saidpur union of Mokamtala upazila. By the organisers’ count, around 4,000 people were covered by the service over the two days.
At the bicycle distribution ceremony, the state minister said he had celebrated Barrister Zaima Rahman’s birthday even during the rule of fascist Hasina. Back then, various humanitarian programmes such as doa mahfils, food distribution among orphans, medical treatment and eye care were organised; this year’s event centres on the welfare of students.
According to him, lunch has been given to destitute people in the Dewantala shrine area every Friday for the past 20 years, praying for the well-being of the Zia family. He said the purpose of these initiatives is to stand by people and work for their welfare.
Explaining the reason for giving the bicycles, Mir Shahe Alam said the main goal is the advancement of women’s education; today’s schoolgirls are the future of tomorrow.
Stressing that schoolgirls must be able to study in a safe environment, the state minister said everyone has to be aware in order to prevent child marriage and eve-teasing. This was discussed at a meeting and the necessary decisions were also taken. Everyone must work together so that girls can travel to school safely and continue their studies, he said. He added that the main purpose of the initiative is to stand by students and carry forward the progress of women’s education.
Speaking at the eye-care event, the state minister, referring to Jamaat, said the party practises a politics of deception, and those who fell for that deception are now regretting it. In his words, they put caps on their heads and danced to the beat of the dhak for votes, but this time, once the voting was over, they were no longer seen at puja pavilions; nor do they tempt Muslims with paradise any more. Although they do politics by exploiting religion, they neither think about imams, muezzins and khadems nor even mention them, whereas Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has thought about them, he said.
Addressing the crowd, Mir Shahe Alam said, your son Tarique Rahman has undertaken various programmes, including the family card, the farmer card, tree plantation, healthcare at people’s doorsteps and canal excavation. Saying he wants to cure the eye problems of the people of his constituency, he said everyone will be given free eye care in phases.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ziaur Rahman, the state minister’s wife Mir Laboni Akter, Rupshi BD Group managing director Mir Shakrul Alam Simanto and his wife Mir Faria Tabassum, and the state minister’s daughter Mir Samara Sunat were among those present. Later, prayers were offered for the good health and long life of the Zia family, including Barrister Zaima Rahman.
Background
According to a bdnews24.com report of 22 June 2026, Mir Shahe Alam is the MP for the Bogura-2 (Shibganj) constituency; Mir Shakrul Alam Simanto, who was present at the event, is his elder son.
This is not his first initiative concerning students’ travel: a Jugantor report of 12 September said he had gifted two buses to Shibganj Grammar School and College and Betgari Mir Shahe Alam Girls’ High School.
Sources
Background sources: bdnews24.com, 22 June 2026; Jugantor, 12 September 2026
