Amit Hasan

I’ve always had a deep urge to travel. Back when I was in Class Five, my aunt (Kaki Amma) promised that if I could earn a scholarship, she would take me to visit all the divisions of the country. By the grace of Allah, I did earn a talent pool scholarship in primary school. But unfortunately, my tendency to get motion sickness held me back-I couldn’t even travel from Gazipur to Narsingdi. For the same reason, I never managed to join any school trips outside my district.

After passing the 18th NTRCA teacher registration exam and stepping into the teaching profession, I finally got my first chance to go on an educational tour-with my fellow teachers and students. Our destination was Sreemangal and Kamalganj in Moulvibazar , Sylhet division. Just hearing the name Moulvibazar brings to mind endless greenery and tea gardens. It also holds an important place in Bangladesh’s history. Bir Sreshtho (the highest gallantry award of Bangladesh) Sepoy Hamidur Rahman, the youngest among the seven Bir Sreshthos, embraced martyrdom in Dhalai, Kamalganj, after fighting with immense bravery.

It was April 9, 2026. Right after Fajr prayer (early morning prayer), I set off early for the institution. The sky was cloudy, as if heavy rain could pour at any moment. Kalboishakhi (seasonal nor’wester storm) storms aren’t unusual at the end of Chaitra (last month of the Bengali calendar), but I really hoped the rain wouldn’t spoil the students’ first tour. Thankfully, it stopped—though a few teachers and students did get lightly soaked. Due to the global fuel crisis, our bus arrived a bit late, but that did nothing to dampen the students’ excitement.

After having breakfast, we finally set off for Sreemangal and Kamalganj. I took a seat near the front of the bus. Shafiqul Sir and Sattar Sir were in the first row, and right behind them sat Saidur Sir and I. Abbas Sir, however, was pulled to the back by the students. Members of the managing committee, including Motaleb Bhai  and Azimuddin Huzur were also with us, while the rest traveled in another bus.

From the very beginning, the students were full of energy and enthusiasm. As the bus moved along, I even bought a lottery ticket from Shafik Sir—just in case luck had something in store. We crossed winding village roads, then larger highways, moving from one district to another until we finally reached Moulvibazar.

The moment we entered Sreemangal, the endless stretches of tea gardens on both sides of the road felt like nature itself had rolled out a green velvet carpet to welcome us. As the students watched women workers picking tea leaves along the slopes, their faces lit up with pure amazement. As a teacher, that moment felt like a reward—what they had only read about in books was now alive before their eyes.

We visited several important spots around Sreemangal and Kamalganj—though I must admit, I don’t remember all the names. Honestly, my curiosity about the tour was no less than the students’. At one point, we all had lunch together—teachers, students, and managing committee members—at a well-known restaurant in Sreemangal.

Later, we headed to a tea garden (I can’t quite recall its name). There, I had a conversation with a woman worker. She shared stories of her difficult life, and I listened quietly. I had read about the struggles of tea workers during my time working at a newspaper, but hearing it firsthand was different—it felt more real, more painful. I tried to offer her a bit of financial help.

On our way back, I spoke with some of my students. They too had talked with tea workers, listened to their stories, and even received small gifts from them. I wasn’t lucky enough to receive any gifts—but my students gave me flowers, which meant even more. Though, to be honest, I still wonder where they managed to find those flowers!

In the afternoon, a lottery draw was arranged by our managing committee chairman (President), Aziz Bhai. I ended up winning a pen. All in all, it was a beautiful day—filled with scenic tea gardens, shared experiences, and meaningful moments. Looking back, I realize I probably should have properly thanked President of the Managing Committee  Aziz vai, Acting Principal Sattar Sir, and everyone involved in organizing such a wonderful trip. Somehow, I never got around to saying it—but they truly deserve it.