Abdul
Malek Howlader of Madaripur is a skilled craftsman to turn the dropout children
of the society into perfect human beings. This person who is averse to
publicity has been relentlessly teaching thousands of dropout students
unselfishly for 67 years. In his own established school, he is alone carrying
on the task of making human beings. Abdul Malek established a school at
Mithapur bazar in Dudhkhali union in 1943. Later this school got fame in the
name of ‘Abdul Malek Howlader’s Pathshala (school)’ across the area.
More
important thing is that he has spread the luster of light amongst thousands of
illiterate and incognizant people. Exhibiting latent talent, he enlightened
many people in his school and took them away from the darkness of illiteracy.
Many of them are well established and respectable people in the society. Akter
Hossain, headmaster of the Kulpadi High School, said, “He was inattentive to
studies since his childhood. He did not do studies at the age of 16. One day
Malek sir called him and arranged for his education in his school. After
studying under his supervision for only three and half years, he sat for SSC
exam in private and passed the exam. If that person did not teach me forcefully
then I could not be a teacher today. I would remain uneducated whole life.”
Akter Hossain said these words with pride. Another student Azharuddin Khan, who
is currently the bank officer, also said the same thing. Malek sir taught him
forcefully. In this way, he educated innumerable dropout students. Many dexterous
people including doctor, engineer, teacher, litterateur, playwright, bank
officer, police and army officer learnt lessons from him.
Yet
no one stays in touch with him. This centennial person worn out by age spends
the day under the extreme hardship. At this age, Abdul Malek Howlader has to do
homeopathy treatment and cloth sewing work alongside teaching to earn his
livelihood. In 2006, he was elected as a white-hearted person among 10 people
across the country in “White-hearted Human Being” competition, a social and
patriotic program of Unilever Bangladesh. He got Tk 100,000 as gift from
Unilever. But the sad thing is that lucky person of Abdul Malek Howlader school
did not get any reception in his own district. Even no one takes notice of the
condition of this selfless person.
When
asked about his great work and life, he said to Shirsho News Dot Com, “He did
not do anything for gaining something. He thinks that it is his mental
satisfaction and moral responsibility. In his 67 long years of pursuit, many
dropout students of that area have been established. It is his great
achievement. Besides, it is his fortune that he taught many helpless and poor
children at free of cost. He said these words in smiling face.”
When
asked exactly when he started this school, he said, “In 1943, he started
teaching small kids three years after doing service in Civil Guard Commander
and few days as Ansar commander.” For developing a child completely, since then
he has been teaching various subjects, including dance, song, acting, PT and
Arabic. He said he has long been teaching in this school. At present, his
health condition is so bad that he can leave the earth any day. He is at a loss
thinking what would happen to this school after his departure. He was saying
these words and was silently looking towards the school holding the pillar of
the house trembling.”
The
only thinking of this extra-ordinary great-hearted person is about this school
and the education and future of the dropout students of this area. This person
forced many drop-out students of this area to come back to study. Many of them
are in the top positions of the society. Do they not have any responsibility to
this great person? Do they not have any responsibility towards Abdul Malek
Howlader’s school, which is resounded with the noise of the small children soon
after 8 O’clock in the morning?
Every
day they sing national anthem standing align under the old banyan tree. With
this, they take an oath to build the country being the perfect human being.
After that, class starts at the balcony of the decayed house. Students do class
keeping books and notebooks on a bench like thing made of one feet tall wood
and bamboo and sitting on wood or brick. Like the students, there is a wonky
chair for master. Because of the fear for the chair being broken, it is tied
tightly with the pillar of the house. Blackboard is also very old. Some of its
parts have also been broken. Still there is no shortage of students in this
school. There are almost 40 students from class 1 to class 5. They do classes
sitting separately in five groups in the same room. Each class has a captain.
This is Abdul Malek Howlader’s school. If you make an on-field visit, you will
see this.
Local
residents have been observing this for 67 long years. Though old age got to Abdul
Malek Howlader, who is close to hundred, he did not stop the work of making
human. This resolute person is fighting alone to educate students of the area
amid thousands of problems. When it rains, rain water falls from the big holes
of the tin of balcony. But class does not stop. The distance of the school
being very far from his own house, he has to come to school every day in
hardship with senile body. This self-confident person does not keep his school
closed despite his problem of walking. This is a story of a fearless commander who
wins the battle of life, because of whose strong leadership, many dropout
soldiers win in the battle of life. Many of his students are today established
in high positions of the society.
Local
residents said, “Abdul Malek Howlader in his own initiative established a
school at Mithapur bazar in Dudhkhali union of Madaripur sadar, which later became
famous as Abdul Malek Howlader’s school. Here, he teaches poor and meritorious
students of the village selflessly at free of cost. He creates interest about
studies in students who have lost it with a newly devised strategy. He provides
mental strength to make each student fully self-dependent by making them participate
in various cultural activities and exercise along with studies. Local people
remember his contribution with utmost respect.”
On July 19, 2013, at the age of almost hundred, Abdul Malek Howlader breathed his last at his village home. He had long been suffering from old-age related complications.
On July 19, 2013, at the age of almost hundred, Abdul Malek Howlader breathed his last at his village home. He had long been suffering from old-age related complications.
Source:
https://sdsmf.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/মাদারীপুরের-আব্দুল-মালেক/