A Teacher’s Royal Farewell in a Horse-Drawn Carriage
By Journalist Md. Ahsan Habib, Gaibandha District Correspondent
Mahabubul Alam Sarkar, who joined the Dublagari Government Primary School in Palashbari Upazila of Gaibandha as an assistant teacher in 1988, bade an emotional farewell to his career with cherished memories. Though farewells are often bittersweet, this one was exceptional and memorable.
To mark his retirement, the school authorities organized a grand and colorful event. In a unique gesture, the retiring teacher was escorted home in a beautifully decorated horse-drawn carriage, showered with floral garlands by colleagues and students.
The farewell ceremony, held on Wednesday (December 11), was presided over by Upazila Assistant Education Officer Abdul Hannan. The chief guest was Palashbari Upazila Education Officer Arjuman Ara Gulenur. Special guests included Resource Center Instructor Robiul Islam, retired professor Shahjahan Sarkar, Assistant Education Officers Mahmudul Hasan, Ferdousi Begum, and Firoz Kabir, along with Sahedar Rahman, the headteacher of the Model Government Primary School, and other educators.
In his farewell address, Mahabubul Alam Sarkar expressed his heartfelt emotions to the students, saying, “I am leaving, but my blessings remain with you. When you grow up and achieve greatness, you will remember us. Strive to become humane individuals. The honor and respect you have shown me today will always remain in my heart. I will visit occasionally to check on your studies.”
Students were deeply emotional, saying, “Sir was more than a teacher; he cared for us like a father. His departure is heartbreaking, but his teachings will guide us toward leading meaningful lives.”
Headteacher Golam Rabbani Selim remarked, “Mahabubul Alam Sir was not just a colleague but like a father figure to me. I sought his advice on many matters. Farewells are painful, yet inevitable. To honor his contribution, we escorted him home in a horse-drawn carriage, a unique and colorful tribute, so that students would always remember him.”
Palashbari Upazila Education Officer Arjuman Ara Gulenur added, “When a teacher retires, leaving their students behind is profoundly difficult. This special arrangement was made to ease the sorrow of farewell. Every teacher deserves such recognition upon their retirement.”
The event was hosted by Golam Rabbani Selim, the headteacher of Dublagari Government Primary School, marking a farewell that will remain etched in memory for all who attended.
