Siddiqur Rahman honoured for lifelong dedication to teaching

The Barguna district unit Bashundhara Shuvosangho honoured Siddiqur Rahman with a crest on Monday on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day in recognition of his long-standing contribution to education and his continued efforts for children even after retirement.

After 36 years of teaching, Siddiqur Rahman retired from government service on 2 June 2023. A few months after his retirement, he joined Srishti Bidyaniketan, an educational institution in Nali village under Barguna Sadar upazila, towards the end of that year. Since then, he has been teaching the children at the school without expecting any remuneration.

Siddiqur Rahman began his teaching career in 1987 as an assistant teacher at Sonautha Government Primary School in Amtali upazila. He was later transferred to a government primary school in Barguna Sadar upazila. 

In recognition of his dedication and competence, Siddiqur Rahman was eventually promoted from assistant teacher to headteacher. He later served as headteacher of Purba Charakgachhia Government Primary School in Barguna Sadar upazila.

During his long teaching career, he received recognition several times. He was selected as the best teacher in Barguna district four times and also received recognition as the best teacher at the divisional level. In 2015, he won a gold medal as the best teacher at the national level.

However, Siddiqur Rahman does not consider awards or medals his greatest achievement as a teacher. To him, the greatest reward is putting books in children’s hands, teaching them and seeing dreams of the future in their eyes.

“I have received awards and honours, and that made me happy. But when a student understands a difficult subject and dreams of becoming self-reliant, the joy I feel is my greatest achievement,” Siddiqur Rahman said.

“A child’s family may have little money, but that does not mean the child is any less talented. If these children are given the opportunity, they can go a long way. My job is to help them take a few steps towards that opportunity,” he said.

The programme was attended by Shasur Rahman, vice-president of the Barguna district unit Shuvosangho; member Akbar Hossain Prince; Kaler Kantho’s Barguna correspondent Mizanur Rahman; Channel News24’s Barguna correspondent Sumon Shikdar; Bangladesh Pratidin’s Barguna correspondent Sohag Hafiz; and local teachers.

At the programme, speakers praised Siddiqur Rahman’s long teaching career, dedication to education and initiative to continue teaching children even after retirement. 

They said teachers do not merely teach in a classroom; rather, they help shape the future of a generation. 

Through his work, Siddiqur Rahman has set an outstanding example of that responsibility, they added.