Honorable Education Minister, Where Is My Gold Medal?

-Maryam Muhsinat Mithun

When educational institutions can even make students’ gold medals disappear, how can I have any hope for this Bangladesh? I heard that July 24th gave us a new Bangladesh. But the gold medal I earned in that new Bangladesh was gone!

I am talking about the National University Vice Chancellor’s Award.

One of the conditions for eligibility for this award is to achieve the highest CGPA in the respective session of Honours. I secured first place in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department of the National University from the 2018 session with a CGPA of 3.81. Out of a total of 2800 marks, I achieved 2496. In 2024, the list of nominees for the Vice Chancellor’s Award was published by the National University. My name was also on that list.

Our awards ceremony was supposed to be held on July 24, 2024. But at that time, there was a movement going on in the country. The whole country was in a state of agitation. Due to that unstable situation, just three days before the ceremony, on July 21, we were informed via SMS that the ceremony had been postponed. It was said that a later date would be announced. Considering the situation in the country at that time, we accepted the matter.

Then the wait began. Not one day, not two days—two whole years. In these two years, I called the National University countless times. All I asked was—“When will our event be?” Every time I got the answer—“It’s in progress, you’ll be informed.” I even called last month. I got the same answer then.

But yesterday I found out by watching the news that 57 people have been given the Vice Chancellor’s Award. But none of us who were already nominated knew. No one called. No SMS. No notice. No explanation. We even had to watch the news to find out about receiving the award for our own achievements!

Then I called the National University and asked, “Why was I left out?” The answer was, “You were not left out. Apply, come and get your certificate.” I said, “Then why weren’t we included in the program? On what basis were 57 people selected? What happened to those of us who were on the previous list?”
The answer? “You won’t get an answer because of that.”

Is this how a student’s question is answered?

But that’s not all. We have also been told that we won’t get any gold medals, crests, or prize money. We just have to go and get the certificate, which they will give us after we apply.

None of those who were given the Vice Chancellor’s Award the day before yesterday were given gold medals. They were given prize money of 25 thousand taka each. My question is, where did our gold medals go?

According to the information we know, 118 gold medals were prepared for the Vice Chancellor’s Award during the Awami regime. Each medal weighs about half a baht, that is, 8 annas. 118 medals mean a total of about 59 baht of gold. Calculate the current market value of 59 baht of gold for yourself. In addition, some more gold medals were prepared for degree students. Those also have to be counted!

But the bigger question than the amount of money is – where did these 118 gold medals go? There was no ceremony for two years. Then a new ceremony was held. 57 people were awarded. But there were no gold medals. So what happened to those previous 118 gold medals?

Who preserved it? Where were they kept? How many medals were there? How many are there now? How many are gone? Is there any accounting? Has there been any audit? And if the medals are really gone—who is responsible for it?

As a student, I feel very cheated today. Who exactly should I go to for this justice?

The gold medal that was supposed to be a recognition of my years of hard work, today that gold medal does not exist. If the gold medals left for us have really disappeared, then the question will arise – who embezzled them? Because no thief from outside came and stole so many gold medals. The responsible people within the institution that was in charge of them, the National University, should be held accountable for this.

So where did the 118 gold medals go? Who took them? When did they take them? How did they take them? Where did they go?

Is it my fault as a student for asking these questions? When I asked them, they replied that there was nothing they could do. What will you do?

I’ve been crying since I heard about it yesterday. I’m not just crying because I lost a gold medal.

I cried thinking that if even one educational institution in this country cannot protect the achievements of a single student, then where will we go?

We study, we work hard, we fight to fulfill our dreams. And when the time comes to receive recognition for that hard work, what greater betrayal can there be for a student than this if we find that our very achievements have disappeared?

The most painful thing is, we didn’t ask for mercy. We asked for what we deserved. And today we have to question what we deserved. My question to those who were in charge of these gold medals is – where are our gold medals?

And if there is really any corruption or embezzlement, then this question cannot be ended by just handing out certificates to a few students. Those responsible must be held accountable. The gold medals must be accounted for. An investigation must be conducted into where and how they were lost.

Because this is not just an account of 59 bhori gold. This is an account of the dreams of 118 students. This is an account of the pride of 118 families. This is an account of the hard work of 118 students over the years.

To those who say July gave us a new Bangladesh, congratulations on a new Bangladesh.

And if the achievements of a student like me are not safe even in this new Bangladesh, if our achievements are lost within the educational institutions—then I have a curse on that new Bangladesh.

Because in a country where a student cries helplessly while seeking justice for his or her achievements, just talking about a new day does not create a new Bangladesh.