🇧🇩 Bangladeshi Achievers

[Saif]

9 Bangladeshis named in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list

9 young Bangladeshis have been named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list for 2024. Image: Forbes/Tech & Startup

Forbes has announced the ninth edition of its '30 Under 30 Asia' list, highlighting 300 young entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators under the age of 30 who are driving change and innovation across the Asia-Pacific region. The honourees represent diverse fields, including arts, technology, media, finance, and more. This year, 9 individuals from Bangladesh have been recognised for their contributions across various industries.

Anusha Alamgir

Anusha Alamgir has been featured in the Arts category. Holding a master's degree in architecture from the Royal College of Art in London, Alamgir was the sole female Bangladeshi exhibitor at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition at the 2023 Venice Biennale. Her film 'Porda,' addressing Muslim veiling practices, gained significant attention. Alamgir's work spans sculpture, painting, photography, and performance, and she also founded the online thrift store Colors Dhaka.

Mehedi Shoron (HelloTask)

Mehedi Shoron, co-founder of HelloTask, has been recognised in the Consumer Technology category. HelloTask is an app that offers hourly bookings, monthly subscriptions, and safety features for domestic maids. The company has secured funding from investors and grants from the World Bank and Oxfam. HelloTask aims to expand its workforce to 100,000 maids by 2025 and explore international markets.

Redwan Ahmed

Redwan Ahmed, an award-winning freelance journalist, has been listed in the Media, Marketing & Advertising category. His notable work includes coverage of the Rohingya crisis and investigations into the exploitation of garment factory workers. Ahmed co-founded the Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media, an organisation dedicated to protecting local journalists.

MD Shahidul Islam, Abdul Gaffar Sadi, and MD Tushar (Drutoloan)

Drutoloan, co-founded by MD Shahidul Islam, Abdul Gaffar Sadi, and MD Tushar, has been featured in the Finance & Venture Capital category. The Dhaka-based startup assists micro and small businesses in obtaining loans by simplifying paperwork and assessing creditworthiness. Since its establishment in 2019, Drutoloan has disbursed over $2 million in loans and raised $125,000 in pre-seed funding.

Sultan Moni, Mumtahina Anika (Zatiq)

Sultan Moni and Mumtahina Anika, co-founders of Zatiq, have been recognised in the Finance & Venture Capital category. Zatiq provides software and hardware solutions to help small companies manage accounting. The company also offers tools for small businesses to create e-commerce websites. In August, Zatiq raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding.

Fahad Ahmed (Wind.App)

Fahad Ahmed, co-founder of Wind.App, has been honoured in the Finance & Venture Capital category. Wind.App uses blockchain technology and stablecoins to facilitate faster and cheaper cross-border remittances. The startup secured $3.8 million in pre-seed funding. Prior to Wind, Ahmed was part of the founding team at Pathao, where he launched various services.​

 

[Saif]

Another Bangladeshi conquers Mount Everest

Babar Ali from Chattogram raises the Bangladeshi flag on the world's highest peak

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Another Bangladeshi conquers Mount Everest
Sozib MiaDhaka
Updated: 19 May 2024, 12: 33

Babar Ali Collected

Babar Ali from Chattogram has summited Mount Everest and raised the red and green flag on the world's highest peak.

Farhan Zaman, the chief coordinator of his Everest mission, confirmed the information to Prothom Alo, saying he reached the summit at 8:30 am (Nepal time) on Sunday.

His mountaineering club, Vertical Dreamers, also disclosed the achievement through a post on Facebook.

The post read, "Mother Nature has temporarily placed Babar on her peak with the grace of the Creator and the prayers of millions of well-wishers. The base camp manager and outfit owner confirmed this information to us a while back."

Courtesy

Regarding his current position, the post noted, "Babar is now on his way down to Camp-4. It will take time to get pictures as it is not possible to communicate with him in the death zone."

Journey to Everest
Babar Ali left Bangladesh for Nepal on 1 April, to embark on his Everest journey. After taking necessary preparations, he flew from Kathmandu to Lukla Airport on 4 April. From there, he began his trek to Everest base camp and reached there on 10 April.

Courtesy

In a press release, Vertical Dreamers said acclimatisation with the altitude is a critical part of an Everest expedition. Babar undertook several climbs to adapt to the altitude. He traveled from base camp to camp-2 on 26 April and wrapped up the acclimatisation phase. He then waited for favorable weather conditions.

On 14 May, Babar started his journey from the base camp and reached camp-2 within the day. After spending two nights there, he moved to camp-3 on 18 May and reached camp-4 on 19 May.

The upper part of camp-4, situated at 26,000 feet, is known as the 'death zone'. Babar resumed his climb at midnight on 18 May and reached the peak of Mount Everest at 29,032 feet by the first light of 19 May.

Physician by profession, mountaineer by hobby

Babar Ali, 33, is a physician by profession. He graduated with an MBBS from Chittagong Medical College. Leaving the medical career, he shifted his focus to travel and adventure.

Last year, he started a bi-cycle journey from Srinagar of Kashmir on 13 April and reached Kanyakumari of Tamil Nadu after one month, covering nearly 4,000 kilometers on the way. He experienced the diverse landscapes of 13 states and union territories of India during the journey.

Earlier in 2019, he walked across 64 districts of Bangladesh, with commitment for environmental protection. He documented these expeditions in his books.​

 

[Bilal9]

Suborno Bari graduates Highschool in Long Island, headed to NYU at 12.

 

[Saif]

Bangladeshi student creates water purifier from e-waste

Zabeer Zarif Akhter, a 17-year-old Bangladeshi student from St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, has secured the national title in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition. His water purification system, crafted from recycled electronic waste, aims to tackle water pollution and waterborne...

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Bangladeshi student creates water purifier from e-waste
Zabeer Zarif Akhter water purifier

Instead of relying on expensive, specialised components, Zabeer says his purifier is built from readily available electronic waste. Photos: Courtesy

Zabeer Zarif Akhter, a 17-year-old Bangladeshi student from St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, has secured the national title in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition. His water purification system, crafted from recycled electronic waste, aims to tackle water pollution and waterborne diseases while promoting environmental responsibility.

Zabeer's invention, the "high voltage plasma water purifier", is built to "eradicate all types of microbiological contaminants and break the double and triple bonds of organic compounds," according to Zabeer. This translates to cleaner water free of bacteria and potentially harmful organic materials. "It can be deployed for individual use in flood-prone areas of Bangladesh to decontaminate water from bacteria and reduce the impact of waterborne diseases," he elaborates.

Instead of relying on expensive, specialised components, Zabeer says his purifier is built from readily available electronic waste. "All the components, including batteries, are collected from electronic waste, such as three-wheeler motor driver circuit parts, old CRT TV materials, abandoned laptops, and mobile lithium batteries," he explains.

As per the young inventor, this not only reduces the overall cost of the purifier but also promotes a solution for managing Bangladesh's growing e-waste problem. "The project is eco-friendly because the components for this project are collected from electronic waste, which can decrease hazardous material emissions into the environment," he says. To further minimise environmental impact, he states that solar panels can be used to charge this device, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Zabeer's drive to innovate stems from concerns for his community's well-being. "Industrial wastewater and textile dyes are significant pollutants that contaminate water and soil, leading to increased carcinogenic materials in both," he mentions. Furthermore, Bangladesh's frequent floods pose a significant threat to public health. "Floods pose a significant challenge during the rainy season, causing widespread suffering and loss of life due to waterborne diseases," he notes.

Zabeer's win in the national round grants him a fully-funded trip to Stockholm, Sweden, to compete in the international leg of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.​

 

[Saif]

Sy Huq: Bangladeshi origin producer making it big in Japan

Sy Huq, a young filmmaker, has become the first Bangladeshi-American creative executive in Japan’s anime industry. He secured a prestigious role at D’ART Shtajio, Japan’s first Black-owned anime studio, and boasts a reputation as a four-time Oscar-qualified director and producer. Intrigued by...

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Sy Huq: Bangladeshi origin producer making it big in Japan

Photo: Courtesy

Sy Huq, a young filmmaker, has become the first Bangladeshi-American creative executive in Japan's anime industry. He secured a prestigious role at D'ART Shtajio, Japan's first Black-owned anime studio, and boasts a reputation as a four-time Oscar-qualified director and producer. Intrigued by his backstory and what inspired him to pursue filmmaking, I wanted to learn more about his journey.

Photo: Courtesy

A traveler at heart and filmmaker by passion, he discovered his love for Japanese films at a young age. He frequented public libraries to watch VHS tapes, drawing inspiration from Kurosawa's live-action movies and Hayao Miyazaki's animations. His imagination and creativity were further fueled by writing and drawing comics.

"Production was never something I thought was within reach for someone like me, especially at the Hollywood level. While backpacking overseas, I realised the profound impact and community-building power of bringing people together through storytelling. After completing my first few screenplays during my travels and receiving positive feedback from those around me, I sensed it was time to take a leap forward. I decided to immerse myself in Hollywood, learn the film business through UCLA's Professionals Programs in Producing, and approach production with dedication," said Sy.

Still image of "MFINDA". Photo: Courtesy

Recently, Animation Magazine announced Sy Huq's new role at D'ART Shtajio, known for their work on notable animated projects such as "Star Wars: Visions – The Pit", "The Boys Presents: Diabolical", and "The Weeknd-Snowchild" (Animated video).

Their collaboration was destined. While immersed in various creative anime projects in Tokyo, Sy began collaborating with D'ART Shtajio on several ventures.

Still image of "THE WEEKND - Snowchild." Photo: Courtesy

"It was during these collaborations, especially with D'ART Shtajio's incredibly talented CEO, Arthell Isom, that we realised not only our natural inclination to collaborate and enjoy the process of developing and structuring stories that innovate and challenge the anime industry, but it was also our potential to create something truly remarkable. It was this realisation that led to discussions with D'ART about joining as lead executive producer. At D'ART Shtajio, I will focus on developing, creating, and writing large-scale anime projects, expanding their portfolio to impact animation enthusiasts worldwide with our unique storytelling style that blends Eastern and Western influences," shared the young producer.

While he has roots in Bangladesh, he has not had much exposure to the Bangladeshi animation industry. He is eager to learn more about it from industry professionals in the country to deepen his understanding of its production.

"There is a project I've been creating and developing since I filmed the primary story in documentary form in Bangladesh in 2022, based on my father's experiences during the Liberation War as a child in 1971, in the countryside. It's been an exciting journey, gaining attention within my trusted circles. We're taking our time to ensure the project is as impactful as possible while allowing it to creatively evolve. I look forward to seeing it come to life to represent the beauty of Bangladesh, frame by frame, in the future." said Sy.

An anime enthusiast, he is also a four-time Oscar-qualified director and producer. His debut as a director, "Things That Fall", was eligible for the 92nd Academy Awards for Best Live Action Short Film. He served as executive producer for "The Boysiabolical", which qualified for the 94th Academy Awards in the same category. Sy also produced two short films, "The Stranger" and "Panorama", both qualifying for the 95th Academy Awards for Best Live Action Short Film.

Sy Huq, despite his films earning critical acclaim and festival awards, encountered challenges while directing his debut film "Things That Fall". The project faced setbacks twice before coming to fruition.

"Through that film, I learned the power of empathy and the importance of championing meaningful causes, such as hiring with authenticity and representation in mind. We incorporated sign language, cast deaf talent for deaf roles, collaborated with mental health organizations for authentic portrayal, and experimented with new sound technology. It was a bold approach that underscored the impact of innovative storytelling and dedication, particularly as we navigated the journey from festivals to the Oscars," explained the director.

After "Things That Fall" qualified for the Academy Awards, Sy Huq realised his responsibility to address real issues through his narratives. He aimed to create films that would impact audiences and provoke reflection.

"My goal was to contribute to improving lives in some way. After four qualifications, I realised that the next step in my career was to scale up and significantly increase the impact I could make in my community," shared the filmmaker.

"My short films, like 'Things That Fall', draw inspiration from animated shorts such as 'Paperman'. They utilise silent film principles to resonate with audiences, focusing on actions over dialogue and the power of non-verbal storytelling. Short films provided a rich education in bringing stories to life, and animation allows imagination to flourish with fewer limitations," Sy explained.

Currently, he's involved in undisclosed larger projects. However, he mentioned collaborating with Arthell Isom on D'ART's first Congolese anime feature, "MFINDA".​

 

[Saif]

Rushanara Ali appointed as under-secretary of state for housing, communities and local govt

Rushanara Ali has been elected from the Bangladeshi-dominated Bethnal Green and Stepney constituency for the fifth time in the 4 July election.

en.prothomalo.com

Rushanara Ali appointed as under-secretary of state for housing, communities and local govt
Saidul IslamLondon
Updated: 10 Jul 2024, 12: 22

Rushanara AlIUK government website

Rushanara Ali has been appointed Britain's' Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, according to the list of minsters published on the UK government website on Tuesday.

She became the second Bangladeshi-origin member of the Labour government cabinet after Tulip Siddiq, who was appointed as the 'City Minster'.

Tulip Siddiq is the granddaughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and daughter of Bangabandhu's younger daughter Sheikh Rehana.

Rushanara Ali has been elected from the Bangladeshi-dominated Bethnal Green and Stepney constituency for the fifth time in the 4 July election.

Rushanara is the first MP of Bangladeshi origin in the UK parliament, first winning in the 2010 election from Tower Hamlets' Bethnal Green and Stepney constituency. Since them, she has been representing the constituency from 2010.

This time she won with 15,896 votes. Despite a drop in her votes compared to previous times, she managed to hold on to this Labour seat. Her close contender was also of Bangladeshi origin, Ajmal Masroor. He secured 14,207 votes.

Since 2010 Rushanara had been the shadow minister for international development. From October 2013 she was appointed shadow state minister for education.

Born in Sylhet, Rushanara came to the UK with her family when she was seven. She earned her Bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics and economy from St John's College in Oxford.​

 

[Saif]

MIST’s Saraf Nawer wins world's largest student architecture competition

MIST's Saraf Nawer wins Inspireli Awards 2024 in architecture.

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MIST’s Saraf Nawer wins world's largest student architecture competition

Photo: Courtesy

Saraf Nawer, a recent graduate from the ARCH-4 batch of the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), has made Bangladesh proud by winning the prestigious 9th Annual Inspireli Awards 2024 in the Architecture category.

The Inspireli Awards is a global competition that celebrates architectural talent among students worldwide, promoting international collaboration across more than 160 countries. The competition provides a platform for young architects to showcase their creativity and vision in fields such as architecture, interior design, landscape, and urban planning.

Saraf's undergrad thesis project, "Tale of an Ocean: Oceanarium Complex at Sonadia", secured her this global recognition. Her project, centred on sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for the ecologically critical area (ECA) of Sonadia, also won two additional international accolades: the People's Choice Award at the International Architecture and Design Thesis Awards (UniATA'24) and an Honourable Mention at the Architectural Thesis Award 2024 by Mango Architecture. Competing against 1,174 projects from 87 countries, Saraf expressed her honour at being the Bangladeshi to wave the country's red and green flag in the world's largest student architecture competition.

"A Tale of an Ocean", envisions an oceanarium complex on Sonadia Island in Bangladesh. The site is home to a delicate ecosystem, featuring mangroves, tidal surges, and complex topographical challenges. Saraf's design includes a saltwater aquarium, freshwater aquarium, dolphinarium, and an ocean heritage museum, all set in harmony with the surrounding Bay of Bengal and mangrove forests.

Faced with environmental challenges like salinity, cyclones, and freshwater scarcity, Saraf introduced energy-efficient, lightweight modular construction methods using sustainable materials. Her design integrates a solar-powered desalination system and rainwater harvesting, aiming for a self-sustaining complex that complements the local ecosystem rather than disrupting it. Instead of isolating marine life, her conscious landscaping invites local species by mapping ideal habitats, creating a symbiotic relationship between architecture and nature.

"To design an aquatecture that addresses and survives the existing site conditions and is also aesthetically and volumetrically pleasing as an oceanarium complex was a challenge for me," recalls Saraf.

However, she tried to address the challenge by designing a structure that is environmentally sustainable and energy efficient in a way that the architecture and nature develop a symbiotic relationship. She also attributes much of her success to the guidance of her studio mentors at MIST – Associate Professor Sudipti Biswas, Assistant Professor Syeda Jafrina Nancy, and Assistant Professor Kazi Zayed Titumir, who played pivotal roles in shaping her architectural vision and execution.

Saraf entered the Inspireli Awards in September 2023, submitting her designs, 3D walkthroughs, and visualisations by July 2024. Finalists were announced in August 2024, and on September 14, 2024, Saraf was announced as the winner in the architecture category. Jury member Martin Dudaško praised her project as "an explosion of great ideas and wonderfully executed shapes", further commending her work for its flawless blending with the unique location and its stunning presentation. The jury described Saraf's submission as evidence of her immense talent and architectural vision.

Fatima Ashraf is a Campus Ambassador for The Daily Star from Military Institute of Science & Technology (MIST).​

 

[Saif]

Bangaldesh maestro Zainul Abedin's painting fetches Tk 8.27 crore at Sotheby’s auction

In a recent auction organised by renowned auction house Sotheby’s in London, United Kingdom, two paintings by the Bangladeshi art maestro ‘Shilpacharya’ Zainul Abedin fetched record prices, the highest for any Bangladeshi artist in history.

www.newagebd.net

Bangaldesh maestro Zainul Abedin's painting fetches Tk 8.27 crore at Sotheby’s auction
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 27 September, 2024, 22:04

UNB/ Collected photo

In a recent auction organised by renowned auction house Sotheby’s in London, United Kingdom, two paintings by the Bangladeshi art maestro ‘Shilpacharya’ Zainul Abedin fetched record prices, the highest for any Bangladeshi artist in history.

Sotheby’s, which was founded in London close to 300 years ago but is now headquartered in New York, recently organised an auction in London on Thursday titled ‘Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art’, where these two paintings were auctioned at record prices.

According to Sotheby’s website, one of the two paintings, ‘Untitled,’ was sold for 516,000 GBP, or $692,048, equivalent to Tk 8.27 crore.

This is a work from Zainul’s ‘Monpura 70’ series, which the artist painted in southern Char Monpura after the disastrous cyclone of 1970. Millions of people lost their lives in that cyclone.

The other painting, another of the Shilpacharya’s ‘Untitled (Group of Figures)’ series was sold for US $643,690, which is approximately Tk 7.69 crore.

Both of these original artworks were gifted by Shilpacharya to Cedomil Plazek, a hydrogeologist and representative of Geotehnika Yugoslavia for the United Nations.

He lived in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and for many years worked on the United Nations’ groundwater resources development project, as per the description written on the Sotheby’s website.

During his tenure in Bangladesh, Plazek befriended Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, who gifted him these two paintings, according to the description of these two auctioned paintings.

As per the description, the first painting is an ‘ink and wash on paper’ based work, measured as 54.5 x 74.6 cm (21 3/8 x 29 3/8 in.), signed and dated ‘Zainul / 1970’ and stamped lower right, and executed in 1970. The second painting is an ‘oil on canvas’ artwork, measured as 68 x 153.8 cm (26 ¾ x 60 ½ in.), signed and dated ‘Zainul. 71’ lower right, and painted in 1971.

Besides these two record-setting paintings, a third painting by the art maestro titled ‘Untitled (Figures)’, sold for $289,663, or Tk 3.46 crore.

Back in March this year, Sotheby’s auctioned two record-setting paintings of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin in New York, USA.

One of them was his famous painting ‘Untitled’ (Santal Couple), painted in 1951, and was sold for $381,000. Another painting ‘Untitled,’ created between 1956 and 1963 depicting a woman at rest, was sold for $279,400.​