The BBC has released “BBC 100 Women 2024” list where inspiring and influential women from around the world have been placed.
Rikta Akter Banu, the only Bangladeshi who has been placed on the list.
Media reports says: “Banu, who worked as a senior staff nurse in Kurigram's Chilmari upazila, struggled to find a school that would accept her daughter, who is autistic and has cerebral palsy.”
Her daughter was admitted to multiple schools before being refused and removed days later, despite the schools keeping five seats reserved for children with disabilities.
She eventually decided to build a special school for children with disabilities in 2010, which was initially a small house with a tin roof, four volunteer teachers, and 63 mentally challenged children.
Despite financial struggles, she is determined to make her school a safe place to promote the education of children with special needs.
However, the BBC writes under the name of Rikta: “In the remote area of northern Bangladesh where Nurse Rikta Akter Banu lives, having an autistic or disabled child is seen as a curse.”
“When her own daughter, who is autistic and has cerebral palsy, was refused admission to their local primary school, she sold her land and built her own school instead,” it continued.
“The Rikta Akhter Banu Learning Disability School now enrols 300 students and has made a positive impact on the community’s views around disability,” BBC recognizes the impact of Banu’s initiative.
“While the school was initially built for children who are autistic or have a learning disability, it now caters for young students with a variety of intellectual and physical disabilities.”
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
