1. Let’s start with the story of how you began your journey in the world of content and branding. You started at a time when content creation and influencer marketing were still in their early stages in Bangladesh. What inspired you to take that first leap?

It all started as accidental fun—never something we planned. We had our own group, known as Dhaka Guys. Back then, Salman Muqtadir was really serious about content creation—he handled all the recording, editing, and technical stuff. We mostly made home videos, capturing funny incidents from school or just everyday moments. YouTube was still very new to us, and getting 10k or 20k views felt huge. When one of our videos hit 30k views in a month, it felt surreal. It wasn’t about money back then—YouTube didn’t even offer monetization. It was just pure fun and a genuine connection with our audience.

2. How was the transition and when did monetization actually start?

Monetization came much later—by the time it started, we had already stepped away from content creation. So, during the peak of our YouTube journey, we didn’t earn anything. There was no monetization, no industry—just a few of us like Dhaka Guys, Bhai Brothers, Ajaira Group, Shamim Bhai. It was all for fun. We used to watch each other’s videos, have healthy competition, talk about projects, and collaborate just to get silver or golden play buttons. There were no brand deals, no ambassadors—it wasn’t professional. Since we were university students, there was no pressure for money either.

The real transition happened around 2017–2018, when people actually started making money from Facebook and YouTube. That’s when we began thinking about it seriously, since we already had a base—on Facebook, Instagram—and started earning individually from there.

3. You started early, but the industry has changed a lot. Back then, there were no clear systems. How was the content and brand collaboration scene during those early days?

Back then, it took a lot of hand-holding—for everyone. We didn’t fully understand the rates, technical aspects, or how monetization worked. Many content creators had tons of views but had no idea how to earn from it. We learned everything from each other.

As for brands, we often did promotions for free—just for the sake of collaboration. It took time to build that process. Later, new creators started coming in, and they were more equipped. They understood Facebook monetization, copyrights, and the business side from the start.

Now, brands know the value of content creators and invest a good portion of their media budget on them. It’s still developing, but everyone’s trying to make it better.

4. Walk us through some of the major highlights of your career so far. From building your presence as a content creator to collaborating with brands — what have been some key milestones or turning points that have shaped your journey?

I’ve always felt more comfortable behind the scenes. Content creation was never my main career—I was more into the corporate side. Recently, I left that path to start my own influencer marketing agency, which I launched just two months ago.

Throughout my corporate career—whether at Robi, Banglalink, or later at Foodpanda—I always tried to support newcomers through the campaigns I worked on. For example, during the Banglalink Next Tuber project, I worked behind the scenes with the planning team to create something for new creators. At Robi, I pushed for influencer involvement even when brands weren’t ready to invest, though I couldn’t do much at the time.

Then in 2019, I joined Foodpanda as the Influencer Marketing Manager. When I started, the monthly budget was around 50,000 taka. By the time I left, it had grown to over 10 lakhs per month. That shift is something I’m really proud of—it showed how much the industry evolved and how influencer marketing proved its value.

5. Traditional businesses are often slow to adapt, while some follow trends gradually. Do you think influencer marketing has the potential to take over the industry, and how long might it take to see real impact?

The potential is huge. If you look at markets like India, Europe, or even Sri Lanka—TikTok fests, influencer campaigns—it’s massive. Our main challenge is the traditional mindset. Many still believe TV or billboard ads are the only way to promote. But trends are shifting, and I believe in five years, influencer marketing will take over a major share of the market.

One limitation in Bangladesh is technology. In other countries, influencer marketing is very sales-oriented—TikTok Shops, one-click product links—it’s all integrated. We don’t have that here. There’s also a lack of industry standards and unity. If we can streamline these processes, the potential is endless.

6. In countries like India, change happens quickly, but we often fall behind. Why do you think our adaptability is slower compared to others?

We always tend to adopt things late. Even back in our time, when Dhaka Guys was popular, AIB came much later in India—but their growth was massive. The difference is, in India, every niche—like sports—gets full industry support. Kabaddi, football, even hockey has been commercialized and promoted properly.

In Bangladesh, we hesitate. We wait to see what others are doing first. Take our women’s football team—they’ve been performing well for years, but we only noticed after they started winning big. We wait for brands to promote something first, instead of taking collective initiative. That’s why our growth is slower—we lack collaborative efforts.

7. With the rapid growth of digital media, content creation has become a booming industry. Based on your experience, do you believe content creation in Bangladesh today offers enough opportunities to be pursued as a full-time career, or is it still better suited as a side hustle alongside other ventures?

If you’re serious about it, influencer marketing can be a great profession. But if you’re laid back and don’t do proper research or keep upgrading, you’ll fall behind. The internet changes every night—you have to adapt.

For example, if someone sticks only to food vlogging, they might get lost unless they evolve with formats like reels, long-form content, or informative videos. YouTube pays really well for educational or value-driven content, so knowing these hacks is important.

You need to be clear on what you’re offering to the audience and how it’s adding value. If you do that, the opportunities are huge and payments are good. Even SMEs are now skipping TV or radio ads and spending on content creators instead. Many brand promoters are generating crazy sales. To stand out, you really need to deliver value.

8. What are some of the biggest challenges creators face in Bangladesh today, and how important is having a proper industry structure?

Having too much structure can limit growth, but having no structure at all is also a problem. What we really lack is a proper support system. For example, we don’t have a local Meta office—so if someone loses access to their account, they’re left helpless, just emailing and waiting for a reply.

As the industry grows, both government and private sector support is needed to provide technical guidance and build a proper ecosystem. Right now, if something major goes wrong, creators have to spend a lot to fix it.

If there were standard processes in place, things would be more streamlined and professional. You don’t need to be highly educated to be in this field, but basic education and common sense are important—otherwise, it leads to irresponsible or controversial content. If you focus on quality and value, and attract the right audience, there’s massive potential in this industry.

9. What message would you like to share with aspiring creators and young entrepreneurs who want to build a career in the digital space? And as you continue growing your agency, what kind of impact do you hope to make on Bangladesh’s advertising and content landscape?

From my experience, the key is to take it seriously and do your homework. People like Rafsan, Salman Muqtadir, and Sunehra Tasnim are at the top because they put in real effort—whether it’s research, scripting, planning hooks, or collaborations. They work hard, and that’s what sets them apart. If you want to stand out, you have to provide value, and that only comes with serious effort and preparation.

As for my future plan, one of the main reasons I started my own agency is to build unity in the industry. I want to bring everyone under one roof and help grow this field together. That’s why I named my company The Industry Limited. It’s not a high-margin business, but it has the potential to shape the future of influencer marketing here. I want to be one of the changemakers driving that growth.