Razia Samad Dahlia - Still serving at 83

At 83, Razia Samad Dahlia, known as “Dahlia Khalamoni”, continues to serve the poor, sick and vulnerable in Sherpur, where locals affectionately call her “Sherpur’s Mother Teresa”.

After her husband died in 1981, Dahlia left teaching in Dhaka and returned to Sherpur in 1990 to devote herself to social work. She has since spent much of her personal wealth and inherited property on humanitarian causes.

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She helped establish the Sherpur Diabetic Centre in 1997, which later became a hospital, and has supported poor patients, women facing violence, students and abandoned children.

Two decades ago, she rescued a Garo woman with leprosy, arranging her treatment and rehabilitation. Two girls she rescued from the streets later completed their education and found jobs.

Dahlia has also promoted sports and culture, helping young athletes reach Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan.

She says she has yet to achieve the societal changes she envisioned, but has tried her best to stand beside people.