Asma Akhter

My name is Asma Akter. I live in Market Camp, Dhaka and have four members in my family. I have been receiving a scholarship from OBAT since I was in grade ten.
My father has been unemployed for some time. This year, I completed my undergrad degree. My family is poor but I always had high-reaching dreams. I wanted to be a teacher. To be one, I had to get higher education, but this was not possible for my family. My father was a day laborer and his income was very limited. With his restricted income, it was not possible for him to pay for my education after grade 8.
My education was about to be discontinued. At that point, OBAT came into my life in the form of a blessing from Allah. I applied for a scholarship and considering my family’s financial situation, OBAT selected me as a recipient. After that, I finished the rest of my schooling and college. I got admitted into Northern University, Bangladesh and I completed my BBA degree this year.
It is not easy in our culture, for a girl to have access to higher education. Due to financial constraints, parents arrange the marriages of their daughters at a very young age. OBAT’s Scholarship Program has solved the issue of early marriage in our community. Other girls like me are also getting access to education and the incentive to reach for their dreams.
OBAT saved my dream and gave me the opportunity to receive higher education. I am now a teacher at at the Ananda Preschool in Dhaka.