From stopping child marriages to bringing dropouts back to school: Shirin Khanom of Nesarabad wins National Youth Award

Shirin Khanom of Nesarabad upazila in Pirojpur has been recognised for nearly two decades of work preventing child marriage, bringing school dropouts back into education, helping helpless people, organising blood donation programmes and developing young people. She placed second nationally in the best youth organiser (women) category of the National Youth Award 2026.

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir handed her the award at a ceremony in the capital on Sunday (1 November). The event was held at 10am at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar to mark National Youth Day 2026.

The ceremony, held under the theme of skilled youth building the country, was chaired by Md Aminul Haque, state minister for youth and sports.

Shirin Khanom lives in Sohagdal village of Nesarabad upazila in Pirojpur. She was born on 22 October 1983. Her father is Md Mozammel Haque and her mother is Farida Begum. After completing a bachelor's degree she joined teaching, but took social service as one of the main goals of her life.

Her social work began in 2007 when she became involved with the Pioneer Youth Club. For nearly two decades since then she has worked for unemployed young men and women, for helpless people and for children deprived of education.

Her notable initiatives include preventing the child marriages of 20 to 25 adolescent girls and bringing students who had dropped out back into educational institutions. She also distributes education materials among poor students and provides food and financial help to insolvent families.

Shirin also provides free medical services, distributes winter clothing, runs blood donation programmes and gives financial help for the treatment of people with serious diseases. She supports small traders, runs awareness work to keep young people away from drugs, and plays a role in local infrastructure development. She is involved in road repairs, bridge construction and repairs in different areas, as well as in organising sports competitions.

She also works on expanding education and protecting the environment. Alongside distributing books and education materials among students, she plants and distributes tree saplings. She currently serves as an adviser to the Islampur United Blood Donor Club in addition to the Pioneer Youth Club.

The national honour recognises her long-running social and humanitarian work, her development of youth leadership and her contribution to the welfare of disadvantaged people in society. Her achievement has created joy and pride among her family, relatives, colleagues and local residents.

Reacting to the award, Shirin Khanom said the national honour was a matter of great joy and pride for her, that it would inspire her to work more for helpless, poor and deprived people, and that she wanted to continue her humanitarian and social work in future.