‘Become a leader, not a boss’

risingbd, country’s leading and popular news portal, is publishing stories on persons who have shown success in various fields. As part of its efforts, Nabila Nowshin is writing stories under the banner ‘In series #30days30souls’. Recently, she talked to Shaeekh Shuvro who is currently a student of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST). He is also a photographer and founder member of some clubs of his college. In the candid chat, Shaeekh Shuvro talked about his childhood, education life, experiences, future plans and more which are given below.

Hello, how are you?
Hi! I’m quite good. How about you?

I’m also good. So, what's your nickname?
My nickname is Shuvro.

From where you completed your S.S.C and H.S.C?
I’ve completed my S.S.C from Adamjee Cantonment Public School and my H.S.C from Adamjee Cantonment College.

Where and in which subject you are studying currently?
I’m currently studying at AUST. My subject is CSE. I’m in my final year now.

Where you used to live in your childhood? Tell us one memorable story from your childhood!
As I’ve grown up in Dhaka, I’ve spent mostly my childhood there. Well, it’s tough to choose one from so many! But I loved to play cricket.

Do you want to give any advice to a 16-year old yourself?
Yes, I would tell him to learn programming then. I think we should teach our children programming from school level. Definitely, we have to ensure their strong basic first.

Is there anything that you wanted to achieve from your childhood and now you have got it? If yes, then what is that and how do you achieve that?
Yes, I wanted to have a wonderful school and college life. Thanks to Adamjee for making it possible.

In this moment we all know we have got some precious free time. So, what are you doing this time? Are you doing something productive? Share it with us! We would love to know your activities.
Yes, I’ve done something during this time. My hometown is in Daulatpur, Kushtia. After the breakout of corona, we’ve created a voluntary organization named Alor Michil. Through this organization, we’ve been able to provide masks and gloves to volunteers throughout 14 unions. Again, we’ve broadcasted through miking about corona centrally and distributed leaflets among general people with the help of our members. After that, we helped 500 families during Ramadan with iftar. Finally, we helped 1350 families just before Eid with food.
 

What is your dream job?
It’s a tough question! I have so many dream jobs. And, none of them has any relation with another. I want to be a successful software engineer. There are some other jobs which I don’t want to disclose right now. Most of them are related to the welfare of Bangladesh.

You are one of the founder members of NASC (Neutrino ACC Science Club) and ACCPC (Adamjee Cantonment College Photography Club). So, you see the beginning of something new and most importantly, you were a part of something new. I appreciate you for this. For doing something new in the beginning, we know the result is unpredictable and there was no surety of success. But you and other respected members make it successful. So I must say, congratulations to you and others. How did you and others make it happen? Share your experience about it!
Thanks a lot! Other than NASC and ACCPC, I was connected to the creation of some other clubs. Anyway, it was tough at the very beginning. But our principal sir of that time Brigadier General Tameem Ahmed Chowdhury helped us a lot. Also, our respected teachers supported us constantly. I was very lucky to have a dynamic batch. There were some hard working folks without whom it would be impossible to move further.

Adamjee Cantonment College Photography Club was the first official club of our college. Zakia Sultana mam is the moderator of the club; I'm forever grateful to her for helping to build and run the club. Again, other teachers from different departments helped us a lot.  Also,  it wouldn't be possible without Nihal, Sultan, Adib, some of our friends and  our juniors -Sadat, Fahmeed, Fahad etc. We organized the first ever national club festival ‘1st ACC National Photography Festival’ in the history of any cantonment college.

Later, we organized the first ever science festival. Then, some other clubs started their journey and some of them are in great shape now. It feels great visiting college now. Before 2014, there were no clubs. But now, I’ve heard that there are more than 20 clubs.

I have noticed that you have very good skills in photography. Since when did you start to do photography? And what kind of pictures do you like the most to capture?
Firstly, I want to tell you that I don’t have very good skills in photography yet. I started my journey in the beginning of 2014. I love street photography mostly. Although for the last few years, I haven’t been able to practise photography properly for several reasons.

Besides these, what do you like to do in your pastime?
I love gossiping a lot. Also I like to read books and watch movies. Though I hardly get pastime these days.

While doing something new, we all need to focus and practise things again and again. Obviously, there will be rough and tough days. So, what will be your suggestion/advice for young people who want to build a new club or organisation in the future?
Teamwork is the most important factor. You cannot run an organization alone. You need to listen to other ideas before declaring your own idea. Again, sometimes you have to consider your teammates’ decision sacrificing yours. This is how you become a leader, not a boss.

In your journey who were always beside you and whom you want to say thanks the most?
Well, my journey is not that long yet. Then again, I want to thank my parents, teachers, friends, juniors, seniors, relatives- specially my cousin Ayon and everyone who’ve helped me to grow.

So, In series #30days30souls you are one of those 30 people. How do feel to take part in this?
I feel lucky to be a part of this series. I’m not sure if I’m worthy. Thanks a lot!

And also, there are 29 more people like you who are passionate about their work and doing great for the world. Do you want to give any message to them?
I want to tell them to keep up the good work. Tough time will come. We have to move on. Also, I want to thank every one of them. Lastly, I’m sharing one of my favourite quotes from the movie Cast Away-

“I know what I have to do now. I got to keep breathing, because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?”

 

Dhaka/Mukul