Shahida Khatun from Shimulia in Bangladesh should be an inspiration to many after succeeding despite a life of hardship due to her disability.

Khatun has only one working limb and on that limb, only three fingers function properly.

Despite this and with the odds stacked against her, she has managed to secure not just an undergraduate degree but a Master's in Political Science.

Khatun's early life was filled with prejudice against her with neighbours claiming her disability was due to her being a child of sin.

She said: "Neighbours used to say I have sinned, this is the result of sin."

On top of this, she struggled to enrol in a local primary school due to her ailments allegedly stopping her from using the bathroom, the teachers claimed.

Eventually, with the help of a nun, she managed to secure a spot in a school and from then on, she was at school, in the sun, the rain, the storm, nothing could keep her away from school.

Fast-forward many years, Khatun now with a Master's is still unable to find a job, despite being overqualified.

She is calling on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to recognise the struggles faced by people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

Shahida Khatun does not have two legs and one arm. She has only three fingers on her hand.
Neighbors who hated her birth as the 'fruit of sin' are now rushing to Shahidar for any need. Elaborating on the history of that pain and struggle, the tearful Shahida said, now she needs a job. And she wants to tell Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about his hardships and struggles.
Shahida is the 4th of Rafiuddin's six children. When Shahidar was born in 1991, the whole family seemed to be in darkness. Because, the girl does not have one arm and two legs. Shahida's mother Johra Begum burst into tears while talking about that time.
She said, ‘Neighbors used to say, I have sinned, I have got the result of his sin.' Johra Begum said that she was doing handicrafts at the Christian Mission in Shimulia at that time. She used to take Shahida with her. When Shahida was five years old, she was taken to St. Louis Primary School for admission. But the school teachers refused to admit him due to his disability. According to the teachers, this girl will not be able to use the bathroom.
In such situation, Sister Joseph Mary of the mission came and stood beside Shahida. She insists that the teacher who would object to this girl being admitted to the school does not need to come to the school! Eventually she got a chance to get admission in the school. Shahidar started going to school sometimes on the lap of his parents and sometimes on the lap of his brothers and sisters. The sun, the rain, the storm, nothing could keep her away from school. Teachers later became sympathetic to het because of her sincere and indomitable interest in learning. She passed SSC from St. Louis High School in 2006 and HSC from Shimulia Degree College in 2009. Shahida said, then Shahid Mashiur Rahman, 6 km away from home, was admitted to the degree college. Dad rented a van for 100 rupees every day. She traveled to college every day in that van and passed BA. After that Shahida passed Masters in Political Science from Jessore MM College in 2016. Rafiuddin, Shahid's father said that it is not clear how many people have spoken after the birth of this girl. Then the girl learned to read with great difficulty. Now he is thinking about her future. If she had a job, maybe the girl would have an opportunity. Shahida said one of her arms and one of her legs were almost completely paralyzed. She moves and works with the rest of her legs and the left hand. She pointed to her left hand and said, "This hand also has four fingers." One of them is obsolete. She has passed MA by holding the pen in these three fingers. Shahida further said, I have learned to read by struggling day after day. A few years ago, I entered the Babar Ali Sardar Special Intelligent School in Raghunathnagar, Jhikargachha. But the school did not have MPO registration. Now the working age is 8/9 months. In the meanwhile, a job is needed to make a living. ' Shahida's younger sister Nazma Khatun, an honors student, said that suffering cannot be explained to anyone. Now if She has a job then ten more disabled boys and girls of the society will be able to follow her. They will also learn to read and try to stand on their own feet, society will not be a burden. Talked about Shahida with Jessore District Disability Affairs Officer Muna Afrin. He said he knew Shahida Khatun. She is a talented and good girl. He has come this far with a lot of trouble. She needs to have a good and supportive job.