Shah Alom Khokon
Diplomat
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Md. Shah Alom Khokon joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (27th BCS) in November 2008 as an Assistant Secretary for BIMSTEC, SAARC, and BIMSTEC & ACD wing of the ministry. He worked there till January 2009. He also worked as an Assistant Secretary (Consular), from January 2009 to August 2009, and Assistant Secretary for Europe and EU, under the same ministry from February 2010 to May 2010.
He now resides in Moscow, the capital city of Russia. He has been posted there as a Third Secretary of Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow since December 2010. He looks after the responsibilities of educational and consular affairs.
“As a foreign service officer, whatever assignment I am given, I always try to accomplish it with integrity. I try to ensure a pro-people environment wherever I work. I want to be part of the process of promoting the interest and image of the country globally,” said Khokon.
A brilliant Khokon completed both his BSS (Honours) and MSS from the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University in 2002 and in 2003 respectively. His areas of academic expertise zoom in on South Asian affairs, international crime and punishment, international political economy, refugee and migration.
Prior to joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shah Alom Khokon worked as Assistant Director of Bangladesh Bank from 2006 to 2008 and an Upazilla (Nageshwari) Rural Development Officer of Kurigram district in 2006.
Khokon took a junior course in Russian language in 2003 from the Institute of Modern Language of Dhaka University. He also took a Russian language course at the Pushkin State Institute of Russian Language, Moscow in 2010-11 academic session.
Khokon completed several professional trainings including Foundation Training Course for the Assistant Directors of Bangladesh Bank (2006) from Bangladesh Bank Training Academy, Mirpur, Dhaka; Specialised Training Course (2009) from Foreign Service Academy, Dhaka; 46th Foundation Training Course (2010) from Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, Dhaka; Short Training for young diplomats in India (2009) and Specialised Training for young diplomats in China (2010).
Khokon was the General Secretary of Surja Sen Bitarko Dhara (Surja Sen Hall Debate Club of Dhaka University) between 2002 and 2003. He also served as a member and team leader of the Surja Sen Hall debate team and International Relations Department debate team at various debate competitions.
“Surja Sen Bitarka Dhara was the best debate club of the country during that time, winning the title three times in a row at the National Television Debate Championship. Moreover, the hall team became champions in almost all of the prestigious debate competitions arranged at Dhaka University,” Khokon said.
He also adjudicated many debate competitions, trained many debaters of Dhaka University and was a Convenor of Pathchakra (reading circle) Sub-Committee of the Dhaka University Debate Society between 2002 and 2003.
He has now availed the opportunity to serve the country by representing the country and countrymen abroad. Khokon has so far visited countries including China, India, Nepal and Georgia for official purposes.
“My dream is to live in a rational and just society and to be a part of establishing that. I want to serve the nation as well as the common humanity in any position or capacity,” said Khokon.
Shah Alom Khokon was born in the village of Enayetpur under Tangail upazila, Tangail district in 1978. Khokon is married to Ilma Afrin Silvia.
“Besides official activities, I want to be involved with cultural and academic institutions at both home and abroad. I have a plan to teach interested foreigners Bangla with the assistance of my wife who studied Bengali Literature in Dhaka University. I want to be active in research and academic work and, if I get the opportunity, I am interested to teach some practical aspects of international politics, theories, refugee and migration issues, international crime and punishment, human rights etc at public or private universities. When posted to the headquarters in Dhaka, I would like to involve myself with debate related activities,” added Khokon.
Reading is one of his favourite pastimes. His favourite books are “Arms and Influence” by Thomas C. Schelling; “For Reasons of State” by Noam Chomsky and “The Paradox of American Power” by Jeoseph S. Nye.
“These books give the reader a critical understanding of world politics,” mentioned Khokon. His favourite personality is his mother. “I believe I have been able to be what I am today only because of my mother. She was my inspiration in fulfilling my dream to become a diplomat,” added Khokon.
Using social networks, watching Bangladeshi TV channels, reading Bangladeshi newspapers and watching cricket are his other favourite pastimes.
Asked about his suggestions for the forthcoming nation-builders, Khokon said, “They must keep in mind that success is not an outcome of a hundred metre sprint, but rather of a marathon. Whatever you do, please do it seriously. Whatever you learn, please learn accurately. If you want to serve the nation, you must equip yourself aptly, and the only useful tool in this regard is to educate yourself.
“As a student of International Relations, from the very beginning of my university life, I would dream of becoming a diplomat. I am happy and grateful to the Almighty as I could achieve that goal. I feel that representing Bangladesh outside the country is extremely prestigious. Moreover, the opportunity to serve people is a matter of honour,” said Shah Alom Khokon.
By Zahangir Alom
Shamim Al Amin
Journalist
Shamim Al Amin is a dynamic and multitalented young individual who is capable of merging innovative ideas, technologies, knowledge and experience for constructive contribution towards the profession of mass communication and journalism.
Shamim positioned first securing first class in his master's examination in 2000 from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Dhaka University. He worked as an intern for BBC (Bangla Service) for six months. Later, he joined the widely circulated Bangla daily Prothom Alo. He worked there for four years (2003- 2006) and soon became a senior reporter.
“Journalism offers a lifetime of adventure. A journalist never really retires. At Prothom Alo, I used to work for the Health and Population section. The moral courage, dedication and sagacity of Matiur Rahman, editor of Prothom Alo, inspired me,” says Shamim.
“During my tenure at the newspaper, I also covered news of old Dhaka and conducted the 'Prothom Alo Old Dhaka Debate Competition’ in which students of the locality participated,” adds Shamim.
He then switched over from print to electronic media and joined the now-defunct Channel 1 as a special correspondent. He was with Channel 1 from May 2006 to April 2009. This was followed by holding the position of assignment editor at Independent Television, where he worked from May 2009 to October 2011. Shamim is now working as a special correspondent for Channel 71.
“Though I was a reporter, I presented programmes like 'Proshnottor' and 'Nirbachito Khobor' on Channel 1. 'Nirbachito Khobor' attained much popularity as I tried to highlight issues that affect the public everyday,” says Shamim.
Shamim received training in Television Journalism from APTN (Associate Press Television Network). He also had training in Reporting and Electronic Media Journalism from Delhi Institute of Mass Communication, under Jawaharlal Nehru University of India.
He has several publications to his credit. His book “Gonomaddham Ebong Shangbadikota”, published by Professor's Publication, has become quite popular among academics and journalists. He edited a book, titled “Bitorker Shorol Path”, which was published by Shomoy Prokashon. He has also written two books -- “Pakhir Protishodh” and “Robin Hood Mamar Abhijan” -- for youngsters and a novel, “Shey Ebong Ondhokar”.
Shamim was the founding organising secretary and team leader of 'Surja Sen Bitarka Dhara' of Surja Sen Hall, Dhaka University. He also held the post of vice-president of Dhaka University Debate Society. He participated in a number of debate competitions as a member of Dhaka University Debate Team. Recognising his versatile creativity, the Dhaka University authority honoured him with the title of “University Blue”.
“To encourage and groom young debaters, now I conduct workshops on debate and act as a judge on debate competitions on BTV and ATN Bangla,” says Shamim.
Shamim received the Mashud Khan Memorial Gold Medal for securing first position in his MSS examination. Shamim, as a team leader of Surja Sen Bitarka Dhara, won National Television Debate Championship Award twice (15th and 16th instalments). He became a fellow of Panos South-Asia while he worked for Prothom Alo. During his tenure at Prothom Alo, Shamim received several awards including Monajat Uddin Memorial Award (2004), UNFPA Award (2004), FPAB (Family Planning Association Bangladesh) Award (2005) and Sandhani Safe Blood Award (2005). He also received the UNESCO Club Award (2008) when he worked for Channel 1.
The dedicated journalist has so far visited several countries including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, UK, USA, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Greece, Italy and France -- for both professional and personal reasons.
Shamim attended the 66th UN General Assembly in New York, USA; 16th SAARC Summit held in Bhutan; International Anti-Corruption Conference in Greece; Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark; UNESCO Youth Conference in Germany and a seminar on HIV held in Sri Lanka.
Shamim Al Amin, son of Saleha Begum and Munshi Munsur Ahmed, was born in 1979 in Gopinathpur village under Laxmipur district.
By Zahangir Alom
Nilima Das
Doctor & Lecturer
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After passing her SSC and HSC from Holy Cross School and College, Nilima Das got enrolled in Rajshahi Medical College in 2002. She completed her MBBS in 2007 and an internship at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital in 2008.
Nilima did her master's in Public Health from James P. Grant School of Public Health under BRAC University in January 2010. Later, she joined ICDDR, B (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh) as a research fellow under the initiative of National Institute of Health-National Health Lung Blood Institute (NIH-NHLBI), USA.
“I worked there for six months. I was among one of the three fellows who got a chance to attend a meeting, titled 'Global Initiative of Chronic Disease Research', held in the USA. The NIH-NHLBI, USA organised the meeting,” said Dr. Nilima.
“Coming back from USA, I went to Manila (Philippines) for a conference on 'Asia Pacific Society of Respirology' in November 2010. There I presented my thesis 'Respiratory morbidity caused by cooking stove among rural women in Bangladesh,” she added.
She again joined ICDDR, B as a medical officer (Cardio Vascular Survey) in February 2011 and was there till September 2011 before joining Nightingale Medical College as a lecturer. “I am now working as a lecturer at Shahabuddin Medical College. Alongside, I am completing another master's in Health Informatics from BIHS (Bangladesh Institute of Health Science),” mentioned Dr. Nilima.
“My ultimate goal is to further study 'Translational Bio Informatics', because one day time will come when doctors or medicine sellers will ask for patients' genetic profile instead of prescriptions to suggest treatment or to refer medicine. I would like to stand well ahead of time,” added a foresightful Dr. Nilima.
“I aspired to become a scientist after SSC. Later, Francis Sellers Collins, an American physician-geneticist, who is noted for his discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the Human Genome Project (HGP), inspired me to keep my dream alive. I strongly feel a social and moral responsibility to serve the society at large. I also notice the prevalence of medical malpractice along with data manipulation and maneuvered research findings. I do argue and play a proactive role whenever I find any such appalling acts,” asserted Dr. Nilima Das.
Apart from her serious pursuits, Dr. Nilima also has other dimensions hinting towards dynamism. A very young Nilima started taking music lessons at Surbani Lalitakala Academy, Dhaka. She also learned music at Bangladesh Shishu Academy for two years. Nilima learned classical music under Rabiul Hossain. She also took further lessons from Ustad Amoresh Roy Chowdhury during her stay at RMC.
“After completing my fourth year at RMC, I was enlisted as an Adhunik singer at Rajshahi Betar (radio). I also hosted a health-based programme there,” she said.
Dr. Nilima has been enlisted as a Nazrul Sangeet artiste at Bangladesh Betar since 2011. She has also been hosting a radio programme, titled “Monojiggasha”, with noted psychologist and a professor at Dhaka University, Dr. Mehtab Khanam.
By Zahangir Alom