Lucy Helen, a British humanitarian activist, came to Bangladesh in the sixties. Back then, little did she imagine that this country would turn out to be her home. This newspaper has recently profiled her. She started working at a hospital in Jessore and treated innumerable patients during our Liberation War. The government recently recognised her contribution to Bangladesh. She is still involved in social works and teaches English at a local school in Barisal for free. Although her contribution to Bangladesh has been recognised, she has not been given Bangladeshi citizenship as yet. Every year, it requires around Tk 35,000 to renew her visa, which she finds costly.

In my opinion, Lucy Helen deserves Bangladeshi citizenship. I urge the government to allow her to become a Bangladeshi citizen.

Kowsar Rahman Sadit, Dhaka