No. 1, a brand of Meghna Group of Industries (MGI), honoured 135 children of tea stall owners for achieving GPA-5 in their Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations today, pledging two years of educational support for their higher secondary studies.
The programme, titled "No. 1 Babar Kriti Sontan Songbordhona 2026", was held at 10am on Tuesday (27 October, 2026) at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh auditorium in the capital, according to a press release.
The students and their parents were honoured at the event, which recognised both the children's academic achievements and the hard work and sacrifices of tea stall owners.
The students received scholarships and gifts in recognition of their results. The brand also pledged educational support for the next two years to help them prepare for their Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations.
As part of the initiative, the students will have access to online academic courses on 10 Minute School to support their HSC preparation.
Writer and Prothom Alo Managing Editor Anisul Hoque and 10 Minute School Founder Ayman Sadiq attended as special guests.
Senior MGI officials present included Md Rahmotullah Khondoker, chief accounts officer; Atiq Uz Zaman Khan, chief human resources officer; Sazzad Hossain, senior general manager for audit; and Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman, deputy general manager for brand.
Assistant General Managers Arjun Chandra Nath, Abdur Rahim Sheikh and Ratan Majumder also attended.
Addressing the students, Anisul said, "Good academic results alone are not enough to achieve success in life. You also need to dream big, work hard and have the courage to move forward despite challenges. Many of your families may face various limitations, but these should never stand in the way of your dreams. I hope you will use your abilities and perseverance to make your families and society proud."
Ayman said, "The right guidance and access to learning opportunities can make a significant difference in a student's life. By achieving GPA-5 in the SSC examinations, you have already demonstrated your academic ability. Now, you need to build on that achievement. Regular study, a well-planned preparation routine and confidence in yourselves will help you perform well in the HSC examinations. We hope the educational support from No. 1 will help you move forward in your academic journey."
Rahmotullah said, "The achievements of these 135 students are the result of their hard work and the sacrifices made by their parents, who earn their livelihoods by running tea stalls. We hope the scholarships and two years of educational support will help them prepare for their HSC examinations."
Atiq said, "The contribution of parents to their children's success is undeniable. This initiative by No. 1 will encourage these students and help them continue their education at the higher secondary level."
Dia Chowdhury, an award recipient from Baitushsaraf School in Cox's Bazar, said, "This programme by No. 1 is a great source of encouragement for us. The opportunity to receive educational support for two years will help us prepare for the HSC examinations and move forward. I want to study hard and do something meaningful for my family and country in the future."
MGI, an industrial conglomerate in Bangladesh, markets a wide range of products through No. 1 to meet consumers' needs. The brand has maintained a longstanding relationship with tea stall owners across the country.
The company said that by recognising their children's academic achievements and supporting their continued education, No. 1 remains committed to standing beside these families and helping the next generation pursue their educational goals.