Before the first light of dawn, Rabiul Islam wakes up. His eyes fall on the books and notebooks on the table in the corner of his room. He wishes to sit and study, but the harsh reality drags him outside to work as a mason. Burdened with family responsibilities and financial difficulties, Rabiul has no time to read during the day. At 6 a.m., he rises in the biting cold and heads to work. From morning till evening, he endures the scorching sun and sweat, carrying bricks, sand, and cement—a daily struggle for survival. Only at the end of the day does he pick up a pen and notebook, dreaming of a brighter future amidst this hardship.

Rabiul, only 19 years old, is the son of the late Shahidul Islam from Ward No. 2, Sohagpur, Patgram Municipality in Lalmonirhat. He lost his father when he was just three months old. His mother, Rabeya Begum, works in others’ homes to support the family. After completing fifth grade, the weight of the household fell on Rabiul’s shoulders. Since then, he has grown up working as a mason, tile setter, and painter.

By day, he enhances the exterior beauty of houses and buildings with bricks, cement, and walls. By night, he returns to his studies. Three generations of his family live under a tin roof and in a small, dilapidated house that leaks in the rain and lets in cold wind during winter. Yet, Rabiul and his family find shelter in this humble home.

Despite the hardships, Rabiul dreams. In 2024, he will complete his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) from Patgram Business Management College. He has gathered old books, hoping to enroll in an honors program this year, though financial constraints have delayed his admission. “My dream is to one day bring smiles to my family’s faces,” he says.

His mother, Rabeya Begum, shares, “I have raised my son alone for 20 years. He works as a mason to support the family, and we can’t even afford to repair our home.” Neighbor Abdus Chattar adds, “Rabiul has been working as a mason since childhood to support his family. They are very helpless and have no proper place to live.”

Rabiul concludes, “Even while laying bricks, cementing, and painting, I dream of a brighter future. My desire is to become successful and bring a smile to my mother’s face.”