Instead of letting out a content sigh after a humble lunch of lentils and rice, Hasibul Hossain sat staring into a world of pure darkness. The deadline for his exam form fill-up was the very next day, yet he didn’t have a single coin in his pocket, nor anyone to turn to for help. The walls seemed to be closing in on him. Just then, a notification buzzed on his phone-money had been deposited into his account by the Lions Scholarship Trust. With those funds, Hasibul smoothly completed his form fill-up the next morning.
Another story tells a different tale of struggle. When Manjurul Hasan was only three months old, his father abandoned the family for another woman, leaving their survival hanging by a thread. Deserted with three infant children-including three-month-old Manjurul-their mother fought a relentless battle against hunger and poverty to keep them fed and educated, often missing tuition payments. Amidst this agonizing battle for survival, a scholarship from the Lions Scholarship Trust paved a clear path for Manjurul to study at the Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.
Stories of Unyielding Determination
These are just a few of the countless stories that moved hearts at the gathering. Many of these students have lost their fathers or mothers. Some watch their fathers struggle as rickshaw pullers, van drivers, or day laborers, while others see their mothers work as domestic help in strangers’ homes. Worse still, some were born blind-living without sight and often without a proper meal, yet with their minds entirely devoted to the pages of books.
They want to study. They want to become educated, compassionate human beings who contribute to society. Yet, poverty towers before them like a mountain. Like unarmed soldiers on a battlefield, these brilliant youngsters look toward society for a glimmer of hope, even as they secure admissions into the country’s top-tier universities and medical colleges.
These visceral, heartfelt accounts of survival and ambition echoed through the Halima Rokeya Hall of the Lions Foundation on Zakir Hossain Road during yesterday’s scholarship distribution ceremony.
Empowering Dreams: The Impact of the Trust
During the event, a total of 55 talented students received monthly scholarships of 2,000 Taka each.
The journey of the Lions Scholarship Trust began back in the 2015–2016 term. Upon taking office as Lions District Governor, Lion Mostaq Hossain introduced the visionary call for “Education for Excellence.” Shortly after, he established a permanent welfare project for Lions Clubs International District 315-B4. By placing 43 lakh Taka collected from dedicated Lions members into a bank Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR), he laid the foundation for the Lions Scholarship Trust.
Today, that fund has grown through accumulated FDR investments to 92 lakh 61 thousand Taka. Alongside the profits generated from this fund, individual Lions Clubs regularly step forward to sponsor deserving students.
A Gathering of Community Leaders
Yesterday’s distribution ceremony was presided over by Lion Mostaq Hossain, with District Governor Al Sadat Dobash attending as the chief guest.
The event featured several distinguished special guests, including Former Governor Lion Rupam Kishore Barua, PDG Lion S.M. Shamsuddin Ahmed, Lion Sirajul Haque Ansari, and CLF Chairman Lion Mohammad Nasiruddin Chowdhury.
Elegantly moderated by Trust Secretary Lion A.H.M. Kafil Uddin, the program also heard inspiring remarks from Lion Kohinoor Kamal, Lion Engineer Mujibur Rahman, Lion Mohammad Hasan, Lion Hasan Akbar, and other esteemed leaders who reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to lighting the path for Bangladesh’s brightest minds.