Women of Courage Award winner Sharmin Akhter passes SSC

After winning her battle against child marriage, Sharmin Akhter has passed the secondary school certificate or SSC exams.

She secured GPA 4.32 out of 5 from Rajapur Pilot Girls’ High School in the southern district of Jhalakathi, according to the results published on Thursday. Sharmin took the exams from the humanities group.

In 2015 when she was studying in ninth grade in school, her mother attempted to marry her off at only 15 years of her age to a 32-year-old man.

In her battle against the pressure for marriage, Sharmin took a classmate’s help and filed a case against her mother and the man with Rajapur Police Station.

She secured the precious right to continue her education, setting a bright example for teenage girls across South Asia facing similar pressures.

Now a young activist against early and forced marriage, Sharmin received 2017 International Women of Courage Award from US First Lady Melania Trump and the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A Shannon. Eleven others have received the award.

File Photo

In a brief interview with bdnews24.com, Sharmin says she wants to be a lawyer to fight for oppressed women.

“My results could have been better if I had not been tortured. I took the exams after struggling a lot,” she said.

“But I am happy with the results.”

Gazi Golam Mostafa, principal of the school, praised Sharmin for securing the score despite the hurdles she went through.