The Life Story of a Helpless Disabled Person, Ruhul

Ruhul Amin, son of Md. Kalam Sheikh and Ms. Muklima Begum, is from Alukdia village in Alukdia Union of Chuadanga Sadar Upazila. His father, Kalam Sheikh, was a day laborer, and his mother was a homemaker. Ruhul Amin was born with a physical disability. His father could not accept having a disabled child and blamed his mother entirely for giving birth to such a “defective” son. As a result, there were constant arguments and conflicts between Ruhul’s parents. His father even physically abused his mother frequently. Amid this bitter environment, Ruhul grew up.

As time passed, Ruhul’s family grew with the birth of a younger sister and a brother. Although Ruhul was the eldest son in the family, he was constantly neglected and ignored by his father due to his disability. However, his mother secretly wished to educate her disabled son despite all hardships. Eventually, his father abandoned them, remarried another woman, and divorced Ruhul’s mother. He started a new life with his new wife.

With no other options, Ruhul’s mother, overwhelmed by despair, left him and his sister behind and went back to her father’s house. At that moment, Ruhul and his little sister had no one left to care for them. As young children, they had no idea where to go or what to do. Even in this dire situation, no close relatives came forward to help them.

Ruhul was left wondering how he and his sister would survive, what they would eat, and where they would go. Seeing their suffering, Saidur Rahman, a worker from the PRPDP project and a young man from the same village, reached out to Ruhul and visited his home. He took the initiative to arrange two private tutoring jobs for Ruhul. In this way, despite extreme poverty and starvation, Ruhul managed to keep his household running.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown period, their condition became so miserable that words could not describe it. Under the Food Support Package, Ruhul received essential food items such as rice, lentils, oil, salt, and potatoes. He was also included in the MJF cash distribution program, where he received a total of 7,500 BDT. With this money, he bought a female goat and some books and clothes for himself and his sister.

Meanwhile, the PRPDP project field officer, Mr. Md. Saidur Rahman, arranged a seven-day goat-rearing training for Ruhul under the initiative of the Protyasha Social Development Organization (PSUS) and the Upazila Youth Development program. Later, PRPDP Project Coordinator Mr. Md. Yunus Ali contacted the Deputy Director of the District Youth Development Office, Mr. Masum Ahmed, to help improve Ruhul’s technical skills. As a result, Ruhul was enrolled in a six-month hands-on computer training course conducted by the Youth Development Department. He is currently continuing his training.

Today, Ruhul is a third-year honors student in the Accounting Department at Chuadanga Government College. Alongside private tutoring, he continues his studies with dedication. His dream is to pursue higher education, secure a respectable job, and ensure a bright future for his sister.

May Ruhul’s dreams come true, and may Protyasha Social Development Organization continue to support thousands of helpless individuals like him, as it always has.