Razia Samad Dahlia continues to dedicate her life to healthcare, education and the people who need support most at 83.
In Sherpur, Razia Samad Dahlia is known by a name that reflects more than familiarity. Affectionately called “Dahlia Khalamoni”, she has spent decades helping people who might otherwise have nowhere to turn. From supporting poor patients to sheltering abandoned children, her work has made her a familiar figure in the community.
Born in Sherpur in 1943, Dahlia initially pursued a career in teaching in Dhaka. However, after her husband, engineer Abdus Samad, died in 1981, her life took a different direction. In 1990, she returned to her hometown, determined to contribute to the welfare of its people.
Rather than limiting herself to individual acts of charity, Dahlia worked to establish institutions that could provide lasting support. One of her most significant initiatives was the Sherpur Diabetic Centre, established in 1997 and later developed into a hospital. The institution has helped low-income patients access treatment and financial assistance.
Her contribution extends beyond healthcare. She has supported disadvantaged students, arranged blood donations for patients and helped women facing violence. She has also provided shelter and educational opportunities to abandoned children, including two girls rescued from the streets in the early 1990s who later completed their education and found employment.
In another instance, Dahlia helped a Garo woman suffering from leprosy after she had been abandoned by her family. She arranged treatment and rehabilitation, helping the woman return to her community. Such efforts reflect her approach to social work: addressing people’s immediate needs while helping them rebuild their lives.
Much of this work has been funded through her personal wealth and inherited property. Her efforts have also reached sports and cultural activities, creating opportunities for young people in Sherpur.
In 2026, Dahlia received recognition at the Unsung Women Nation Builders Awards, acknowledging her decades of community service.
Her story is not simply about the institutions she helped establish or the people she supported. It is about a sustained commitment to making healthcare, education and dignity more accessible to others. For the people who call her Dahlia Khalamoni, her legacy lives not only in buildings and organisations, but also in the lives those efforts have helped change.
