Girl beats poverty to succeed

Daughter of a daily wage earner from a remote village of South Dinajpur district stood first in this year's High-Madrasah (class X) examination in West Bengal.
Sumana Khatun of India-Bangladesh border village of Deun under Kumarganj police station area secured 748 out of 800 to top the High-Madrasah examination in the state, the result of which was announced today.
She has to cycle around two kilometres everyday to reach Basanti Hedaytullah High Madrasah from her village since she was in class V.
Sumana, youngest of three sisters, said she knew that she would get good marks but never imagined to top the examination.

Out of the eight subjects, she secured 90 or more in six with a score of 100 in mathematics.
"It was not possible for my parents to help me financially for my studies. But they never stood in my way. They have given me immense mental support," said Sumana who wants to be a teacher in future.

Headmistress of the High Madrasah Chhanda Sarkar said, "Deun is a very backward village. What Sumana achieved hailing from that village is an unbelievable feat. We are proud of her."
Sumana expressed her gratitude to her teachers who helped in her studies.
Her two elder sisters are married and they helped Sumana get a private tutor.

Sumana's mother Bilkis Beghum was overwhelmed.
"We find it hard to meet both ends. We did nothing. Her result is the effort of her own," she said.
Sumana's father Abu Sadek Mian is now working outside the state.