Milestone teacher Maherin Chowdhury gets Independence Award

Milestone teacher Maherin Chowdhury has been selected for this year's Independence Award, the country’s highest state honour.

The Cabinet Division issued a press release in this regard on Thursday.

Maherin Chowdhury, who died in the jet plane crash at Milestone School and College while trying to rescue students, has been selected posthumously for her sacrifice.

This information was given in a notification signed by Additional Secretary (Committee and Finance) of the government Md. Humayun Kabir on Thursday (March 5) afternoon.

Maherin Chowdhury's ancestral home is in Bogulagari village of Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari. She was the president of the executive committee of the local Bogulagari School and College and an English teacher at Milestone School and College in Dhaka.

On July 21 last year, a fire broke out when a training aircraft crashed into the building during classes at Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka. In that terrible situation, Maherin worked until the last moment to evacuate the students to a safe place. At one point, she herself was burned in the fire. She was taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in serious condition, where she died at 9:45 pm that night while on life support.

According to colleagues and eyewitnesses, she saved the lives of at least 20 students by sacrificing her life. She is a unique example to the people of the country for her sense of responsibility and bravery.

Maherin's husband Mansur Helal said that this recognition by the government is a source of pride for their family. He appreciated this initiative to preserve the memory of his wife.