A village of educated people

It is a remote village, but all the people are literate. It is devoid of crime as there is no conflict or clash exists in the village. As a result, there is no hassle of lawsuit.
A detached place under the Gala union of Shahjadpur upazila in Sirajganj district, the Dewan Tartia village is located at the confluence of Jamuna and Hurasagar rivers. There is no direct transport system to reach the village located 15 kilometers away from the sadar upazila. Going on foot in dry season and by boat across the Hurasagar river during rainy season are the only way to travel to and from upazila sadar.
Despite being a remote village, most of the villagers are highly educated. Many villagers have been working in different important positions both in public and private organizations for long times. Service is the main occupation of this village. Elderly inhabitants of this village could not remember if police came in this village after the independence. Villagers claim that there is hundred percent literacy in their village. 

Recently, during a field visit, villagers revealed that a school was established in this village in 1911. Since then, the percentage of higher education is increasing every year. The nearest high school of this village, Verakola high school, is one kilometer away. As the road construction is not good, students have to go to school by walking.
Elders of this village remarked that during the time of British rule if anyone passed matriculation (SSC) crowd of people came to see him. But in that period 30 to 35 students passed matriculation exam. In addition, one of them, Khaja Abdul Jalil, even went to Kolkata and earned Masters degree and four of them earned Honors degree. People who earned Honors degree are Syed Kobad Ali, Abul Mohsen Khan, Syed AbdurRohim and Abdul Khalek Khan. At that time, they worked in the important positions of government service. Those five talented persons later played an important role in spreading up education in the village.
Resident of that village, Syed Abdul Halim, a retired agriculture officer, said, “we have seen that during 1950s education was compulsory. Elders put pressure on the parents to send their children. Those who did not send their children to school, they were laughed at by others. This way developed an interest for education among the villagers. Now, there is no way a child can grow up illiterate in this village.
It is not just education where the village excels. In fact, this village is an ideal place for peaceful coexistence as well. That is why the village is free from dispute, violence and litigation. Even if some family problems emerge, the elders of the village mutually mitigate them by arranging meetings. Azizur Rahman (57), a villager and postmaster of Dewan Tartia branch Post Office, said, "Police walked over this village on their way to other areas. But I cannot remember any instance when that Police came to this village. Actually, there was no offense ever committed for which law enforcers had to intervene into the village. All the people in the village are educated and conscious. That is why, our village is free from crime.”
Retired government officer and President of the management committee of Dewan Tartia govt. primary school, Syed Abdur Roshid, said, "Sitting together, they ask parents about their children's education. They help poor students by raising fund so that their education in college and university level does not get interrupted due to lack of money. He also said if any poor people became serious ill then rich people of the village provide his treatment expenses by raising fund."
Village inhabitant, Akmol Hosen, the former Union Parishad member, said, "It is difficult for us to travel to outside areas. As it is remote area, we have accepted this hardship. But we cannot accept the fact that there is no local market and suitable road to go to neighboring villages."
Chairman of Gala Union Parishad, Jahurul Haque, said, "Despite being remote and hostile environment, Dewan Tartia is a village of educated and gentle people. I feel proud of such a village being in my union. We have done a lot of development works including the construction of roads in the village. But they did not last long during the rainy season."
Head master of the Dewan Tartia govt. Primary School, Monjurul Haq, said, we have seen in survey that 100% children of the village are going to school.
There was a time when the village was inhabited by more than 1500 people. But the number of existing permanent inhabitants has been reduced to 600 to 700 as a large part of the village was vanished through river erosion a few years ago and many families left the village for cities looking for jobs.
Shahjadpur UNO Shamim Ahmed told the Prothom Alo, "As far as I know is that hundred percent primary education has been ensured thanks to the initiatives taken by the villagers of Dewan Tartia village. It is an exemplary endeavor taken by the knowledge-loving people of the village and should be an inspiration for other villages.
Source- http://www.prothomalo.com/…/ar…/389065/শিক্ষিত-মানুষের-গ্রাম