Empowering Girls: Changing the Narrative for Female Success
In a small village in Naraynpur, Jashore, the tragic story of Sabrina Aktar Shammi unfolded last week, leaving the entire community reeling in shock. Sabrina, a third-year student in the Department of Sociology at Jagannath University, had returned home with a lifeless body, not the anticipated joyous visit. Her family, unable to comprehend the situation, was overcome with grief, as Sabrina’s life took a devastating turn.
Sabrina Aktar Shammi was the only daughter of Jahidur Rahman Lipton, a land assistant officer in Keshabpur Upazila. Last Sunday, he brought her deceased body from Dhaka to their home for burial, a heartbreaking journey that no parent should ever have to make. The family had learned about her death on Saturday night, when a fellow student found Sabrina hanging in her dorm room in Tanuganj Lane, Old Dhaka, having taken her own life.
Locals described Sabrina as a brilliant student who had excelled academically, from passing her SSC exams to enrolling in Chougacha Midhapara Women’s College and eventually being admitted to Jagannath University’s Department of Sociology. Her teacher, Aktaruzzaman, remembered her as a quiet, intelligent girl who tragically chose to end her life by hanging herself in her dorm room. Reports suggested that a failed love affair had driven her to this drastic decision.
Sabrina was the younger of two sisters, her elder sibling being only seven years old. Their mother had remarried and moved away, leaving the two girls in their father’s care. However, the absence of their mother and the failure of her second marriage had a profound impact on Sabrina, ultimately leading to her untimely death. Everyone in the community was left in shock and disbelief at the tragic turn of events.
Lipton recalled how Sabrina had always dreamt of studying at Dhaka University from a young age, a dream that remained unfulfilled. To support her younger sister’s aspirations, Sabrina had enrolled her in a coaching center in Dhaka a few months ago, showing her dedication to her family and their future. However, the events of that fateful night, when Sabrina took her own life after a stroll with her sister, remain a mystery that haunts everyone who knew her.
As Sabrina was laid to rest in her village on Sunday night, Dr. Tajammul Haque, the Proctor of Jagannath University, speculated that her suicide was likely driven by a failed romance. He revealed that she had made a phone call to her lover before ending her life, a tragic detail that added to the complexity of the situation. The authorities have seized her mobile phone for further investigation, shedding light on the possible causes of her untimely demise.
The loss of Sabrina Aktar Shammi has left a deep void in her community, a painful reminder of the struggles that young women face in pursuing their dreams and navigating complex relationships. As her family mourns her passing, the tragic story of Sabrina serves as a poignant reminder of the need for greater support and empowerment for girls in our society. May her memory inspire change and empower future generations of young women to overcome obstacles and strive for success.
