Source: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo

 Torikul Islam, a young man in his early twenties, is a student, trying to work his way towards a BBA degree from a private university. A straight 'A' undergraduate, Torikul, in his fifth semester, plans to major in Finance and eventually join a bank. A huge fan of actors Chanchal Chowdhury, Mosharraf Karim, AKM Hasan, respectively, and television fictions that portray lives in rural villages, Torikul is a young student with dreams of making it big in the city.

After getting into Bangladesh University in Mohammadpur, Torikul looked for ways to survive in the capital. "I went to a nearby garage and rented a rickshaw to pull," he says. "For the first two semesters, I would pull the rickshaw after or before class, six days a week, earn my keep and rest and study only on Fridays." It was on such a fateful night when Torikul picked up a banker named Kamrul Hasan and struck a conversation with him. He told him about himself, his grades and his life back in Joypurhat. Hasan clicked his picture and uploaded it on Facebook. "My friend told me about the picture and initially I felt insulted," says Torikul. "None of my friends knew about me being a part-time rickshawallah! I found Mr Hasan and requested him to take the photo down and he did."

The sudden revelation of Torikul being a rickshawala had some repercussions. "My roommates would avoid me," he says. "The situation got so bad that I had to shift my residence. In fact, some students would also taunt me. But now, everything is normal. Some of my friends know about my part-time work and respect it. In fact, after the Facebook post, Mr Zahid, a lecturer at Dhaka University contacted me and offered to help me financially. He is now sponsoring my education at Bangladesh University." Strangely enough, Torikul's request for a scholarship based on his merit and financial situation was rejected by the BU authorities. "I did find Mr Kamrul Hasan once again and apologised to him profusely!" he smiles.

Torikul came to Dhaka from Joypurhat in January 2013 to apply to public universities. He had done quite well in his SSC and HSC exams and was confident enough to apply to one of the public universities or colleges. "But I could not get in," he says. "That's when I decided to get into a private university." Torikul's father is a day labourer in his 40s and his mother is a homemaker in her mid-thirties. Clearly, the parents are unable to provide a proper education to Torikul and his younger brother. "My brother is also a good student. He secured a Golden A in his SSC exams this year!" he says proudly. "I earn whatever I can and send some money for his education."

Thanks to the sponsorship, Torikul now gives more time to studies and hopes to earn enough to get some computer lessons. "I am also saving up for a second hand computer," he says. "I believe I can get a part time job at a call centre if I can improve my typing and learn computer basics."

As preparations take place to celebrate the United Nations International Youth Day on August 12, clearly, Torikul Islam becomes a model of hard work, perseverance and working slowly yet steadily towards the top, amongst the Bangladeshi youth.