‘Daughters of the state’
"I have no relatives. I never imagined this beautiful day will come to my life, that too, with love and affection from the people as well as the administration."
Marjina, Mukta and Tania Akhter ended up at state-run Chotomoni Nibash in Chattogram's Hathazari upazila many years ago. The three were so young that they never even got the chance to know their biological parents.
In 1997, a sub-inspector brought Marjina Akhter to the institution when she was just 45-days old. Mukta, on the other hand, lost her parents at the age of four, while Tania was orphaned at the age of two after her mother passed away at Chattogram Medical College Hospital in 2003.
Never having the fortune to experience parental love, the three grew up in the care of Chotomoni Nibash staffers, along with many other children like them.
The centre is run by the government children's home under the social service department.
Residing in the institution, the three also completed their higher secondary education. Afterwards, they started working at Chattogram Maa O Shishu Hospital in Agrabad.
They are all in their mid-twenties now.
To aid the start of a new chapter in their lives, Chattogram District Administration organised a colourful wedding for the three "daughters of the state" in the city's Officer's Club on Thursday night.
Their grooms are also staff members at CMCH. Before the wedding, their "Gaye Holud" ceremony was held at Chotomoni Nibash premises, entertaining nearly 700 guests.
The ceremonies were adorned by the presence of many distinguished guests. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also invited to the ceremony.
On behalf of the PM, Deputy Commissioner Md Mominur Rahman handed over gold ornaments, gifts and cash to the couples.
Marjina Akhter tied the knot with CMCH's office assistant Md Omar Faruq (29).
"I have no relatives. I never imagined this beautiful day will come to my life, that too, with love and affection from the people as well as the administration," she said.
DC Mominur said, "The premier gifted ornaments, furniture and cash to each couple. They don't have parents, they have grown up in safe homes. They are our children, so we also wanted a colourful wedding ceremony for them."
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