Talent isn’t measured by limbs

Seventeen-year-old Tamanna Aktar Nura was born with no arms and only one leg. She earned the highest GPA in her high school graduation exams. She took the exams by holding a pen between her toes.

"I want to prove that physically challenged people are not burdens to society. I believe in my own potential. I want to be a BCS cadre," shared Tamanna, who loves reading, writing, and drawing.

From the day that she was born, Tamanna's paternal grandfather thought of her as a bad omen. "I have not maintained my relationship with my father. When Tamanna was just 18 months old, my wife and I decided to move out of his neighbourhood," said Md Raushan Ali, Tamanna's father.

Now, they live in a brick house on the side of a water body at Alipur village in Jhikorgacha of Jashore, in rather unhygienic conditions. The house was built for them by Tamanna's maternal grandfather, Dr Abdul Khalek. However, he does not visit them, as he has not been able to come to terms with Tamanna's condition till date.

Tamanna's parents receive no financial support from their own family members. Her father teaches at a madrasah, but earns no salary, as the institution is a non MPO. His only source of income is his private tutoring jobs. He has been facing many setbacks in his work due to the pandemic, for over a year.

 Initially, no schools were willing to accept Tamanna, because of her special needs. "The Principal of Ajmain Adus Pre Cadet School was very kind to us. He agreed to enroll Tamanna into his school after I told him about her in detail," explained Md Raushan Ali. "Tamanna's mother laid out a mat in a corner of the classroom for her. Ever since then, my daughter has stood first in each of her classes. She completed her SSC exams with GPA 5 from Bankra J K Secondary School, in 2019. She is a science student."

"Tamanna is a brilliant and polite girl. She is attentive to her studies. She is also excellent at drawing and debating," said Helal Khan, Headmaster, Bankra J K Secondary School.

Tamanna now looks to achieve GPA 5 in her HSC exams.