Sharmin Aktar has passed the Secondary School Certificate examinations with GPA (Grade Point Average) 4.32, fighting against all odds including her mother's attempt to marry her off at an early age.

For the extraordinary courage with determination to continue study, Sharmin received the International Women of Courageous Award from the US State Department on March 30 this year.

Expressing happiness after knowing her SSC results yesterday, Sharmin said, "I am thankful to my honourable teachers and all who supported me to carry on my studies well."

"My education faced virtual clo-

sure as my mother forcibly arranged my marriage with an aged man when I was a Class IX student of Rajapur Pilot Girls' High School in Jhalakathi in 2015," said Sharmin.

But to escape early marriage and continue schooling, Sharmin filed a case against her mother with Rajapur Police Station on August 17 in 2015 with the help of a class friend and a local journalist and was able to continue her study.

She wants to be a lawyer and work for women's rights.

"Sharmin was regular in study. She has set an example for young learners, especially for girls in rural area," said Golam Mostafa, headmaster of Rajapur Pilot Girls' High School from where Sharmin appeared at the SSC examinations this year.