116 years old woman Rukhminia lives in Sylhet

A 116-year-old woman has been found in Moulvibazar. Her name is Rukhminia Pashi. According to the information on her national identity card, she is now 116 years, four months and one day old.

Rukhminia's home is in the Raubari area of Rajnagar Tea Garden under Tengra union at Rajnagar upazila of the district. She lives in that tea garden.

According to the Guinness World Records, the oldest woman is Sister Ina Canabero Lucas. This Brazilian woman is 116 years and 210 days old.

Local people said Rukhminia’s grandfather came to Bangladesh from Indian state of Bihar about 200 years ago. They started living at Giasnagar tea garden at Moulvibazar Sadar union. Her father Harideo Pashi started living Rajnagar Tea Garden as a tea garden worker. Rukhminia got married to Bhagwan Das Pashi of Rajnagar tea garden. She lives in the Raubari area of the tea garden situated about 10 kilometers from Rajnagar Upazila Sadar. She is also a tea garden worker.

The voter ID card shows that Rukhminia is 116 years old. Her date of birth is written there as October 9, 1908. Her husband's name is Bhagwan Pashi and her mother's name is Dhaneshwari Pashi.

Rukhminia cannot speak Bengali properly. She has become very hunched due to age. She also has poor hearing.

When she speaks, she says in her own language that her ancestors came here to cultivate tea during the British period. She got married at a young age. After her marriage, she started working as a tea picker Rajnagar tea garden about 100 years ago. She heard the news of the First and Second World Wars.

Her relatives said although her age seems a bit high in the voter list, she cannot be less than 112/113 years old.

Umesh Yadav, an assistant teacher at Tengra Bazar Government Primary School in Rajnagar upazila, said, "When I went to update the voter list, I first took out the deletion form to delete her name. Later I saw that she was alive. I was surprised to see this old woman."

He said, "It can be assumed that Rukhminia is a very old person. Her name should be sent to the Guinness Book of Records. For this, the government as well as the tea plantation authorities can also come forward."

Rukhminia Pashi's 62-year-old son Hemant Pashi said, "My mother is 116 years old. She is fairly healthy. She has broken down a lot due to old age. We take proper care of her."

Sripati Pashi, a 70-year-old woman from the same area, said, "Rukhminia got married during the British era. Her vitality was unwavering. She is still alive because of her good physical condition. She has many grandchildren, including two sons and a daughter."

Tengra Union Acting Chairman Ram Dulari Nunia said, "Rukhminia looks very old. Everyone in the area knows her as an elder."

Rajnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Afroza Habib Shapla said, "We will investigate and look into the matter. She does not have any documents other than her voter ID card. Since she does not have any educational certificate, we will have to verify the matter. If her relatives determine the correct age through the Civil Surgeon's office, then we will inform the appropriate authorities."