The Humanity of a Singaporean Woman—and Some Unpalatable Questions for Our Society!

I have had the opportunity to travel to many countries across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Yet, an incident I witnessed in Singapore taught me to reflect once again on a profound truth: a person’s true identity is not defined by their country, language, or wealth, but by their humanity.

I was running late to catch my flight from Singapore to Dhaka. In that moment of distress, a Singaporean woman helped me find a car quickly so that I could reach the airport on time. In helping me, she was delayed in getting to her own office and even missed her train. Yet, she made sure I could reach the airport safely before continuing on her own journey.

Just think about it: how beautiful must a person’s heart be for them to sacrifice their own time, convenience, and comfort to help a complete stranger!

I extend my heartfelt gratitude and deepest respect to her.

However, this experience also raises some questions about our own society. How sincerely do we help strangers when they find themselves in trouble? Are we teaching our children to consider the difficulties of others as if they were their own?

Let the change begin with us-with our own families, our own behaviour, and the way we educate our children. A country becomes truly developed not merely through its roads, towering buildings, or per capita income, but through the hearts, conscience, and humanity of its people.

Of course, Bangladesh is home to countless compassionate and altruistic people. Yet, at the same time, we witness certain behaviours around us that are genuinely disheartening. On roads and streets, people often compete over who gets to go first and who can get ahead of others. In this race, courtesy, patience, and empathy are frequently left behind. It is as though we are all participating in an invisible race in which success means nothing more than overtaking everyone else!

From time to time, we also hear reports of foreign tourists being mistreated, deceived, or even robbed of everything they possess. Such incidents do not merely harm individuals; they also tarnish our country’s image and raise serious questions about our society. In countries like Japan and Singapore, everyday interactions reflect discipline, a sense of responsibility, and respect for others. Behind these behaviours lie important factors such as family upbringing, social values, and a culture of respecting rules.

So, we must ask ourselves: What are we teaching our children? Is our education system designed solely to help them achieve good examination results and secure jobs, or is it also meant to help them grow into good human beings?

Being educated and being truly enlightened through education are not the same thing. Academic degrees can provide professional qualifications, but developing humanity, honesty, empathy, and respect for others requires a collective effort from families, society, and educational institutions.

We all want to earn money and achieve success in life-and that is only natural. But if we lose our humanity in the race for success, what is the true value of our achievements?

That unknown Singaporean woman did more than help me reach the airport. She reminded me that humanity requires no passport and no identity card. All it takes is a kind heart.

Can we not build a Bangladesh where a stranger in distress can confidently seek help from another person? A Bangladesh where people care not only about their own success but also about the difficulties and suffering of others?

Let the change begin with us-with our own families, our own behaviour, and the way we educate our children. Because a country becomes truly developed not merely through its roads, towering buildings, or per capita income, but through the hearts, conscience, and humanity of its people.

Thank you, kind stranger from Singapore. Your small yet extraordinary act of kindness has reminded me once again that the power to make this world a better place still lies in human hands. 

The writer is a researcher and analyst