I started my career as a teacher in an English Medium School in late 90s while I was a student. During my tenure, I noticed that we all only focused on good students and the front-benchers. We hardly prioritized the backbenchers or the struggling students. We hardly talked about them. I believe good students deserve appreciation but struggling students should be prioritized. We should find out the reasons behind them being unmindful in their studies. I had an evening school, with a vision of helping slow learners. We used to teach regular subjects along with French, Arabic and Art as an extra curricular. We used to provide them with indoor game facility and meals. It was a complete daycare experience in terms of facility. By the time, my students at the evening school grew up and completed their O levels, I felt the need of proper counseling and career advice. Later I started working on it and  contacted International Universities and started processing university applications and documentation for visa for the students and this is how I am in this sector today.

2. How did you come up with the student exchange program?

I genuinly realized the students of our country needed International exposure to think forward, dream big and think big. Exchange programs with different International universities of different countries help you learn their culture, lifestyle and language better. With a global exposure sky is the only limit and I always believed in that. Through exchange programs students, professionals can share individual views, cultural differences and differences in the education system of two countries. You tend to mingle with people, tend to learn more.

3. Tell us about the exact amount of capital for the first business venture of yours.

In those days, I am talking about early 2000 when I started my own business, capital was not a major issue in the sector I wanted to work with, all we needed was a computer to communicate and a place to sit. I was blessed to have a decent place of my own where I started my business. My intention was very clear and pure and that was to help students with their studies, their aspirations for higher education and any area that they might need help in. During those days, studying abroad was not a very common thing amongst middle class families. I felt students needed to go for higher education abroad and get the best of counselling and related advice and I started my business with that vision. I wanted to guide young children with accurate and honest counseling. I did not want the parents to lose their hard-earned money here and there.

4. Would you say that your sympathy towards children who are struggling stems from your personal experiences at school?

I was always a backbencher, I never studied until my high school; I am not saying it’s a good thing but that did not stop me from dreaming or pursuing with whatever I wanted to do in life. I was a very pampered child so I genuinely believe, love and affection can do wonders. I strongly believe, all parents should be very positive, supportive and sweet to their children regardless. The  family should be the most comfortable place for a child where they should not feel insecure under any circumstances.  For example, we witnessed a tragedy at Viqarunnesa School, some time ago. I cannot say copying in an exam hall is the right thing to do but I genuinely feel the student should have been counselled by the teachers and the school should have tried to find out if the student was facing any challenge otherwise. Both parents and teachers should have tried to find out what exactly she was going through and what difficulty she was facing.

5. Tell us about your favorite students.

I had a student named Rusho, he started 1st grade when he was older than his  peer. He struggled in the initial years of his schooling but later he proved himself. He’s doing his undergrad in North South University now and he’s doing amazingly well. I always remember him.

6. How do you filter students in your placement agency?

I see the intention of a student, I try to find out how passionate one individual is about studying abroad and how much effort he/she is ready to put in order to be in a foreign university. I prefer talking to their parents too because they are the decision makers and they have to support them financially. I don’t want the students to struggle financially when they are studying abroad. Being in a foreign country is not always a bed of roses situation. They face  challenges like weather, language, culture, food, staying away from the family and studies. So, I talk to the parents and students to make a practical and reasonable decision.

7. How is Education Excellence different from other student placement agencies?

With due respect to all the agencies who are in this trade I would like to consider us as one of the most passionate and straight-forward service provider.

8. Did you face any gender disparity while starting your journey as an entrepreneur?

I haven’t faced much of a problem in working in this sector. Rather I got support and appreciation. It’s a tough world end of the day and you need to survive with respect and dignity.

I firmly believe that being respected is based on your personality. Everyone will respect you if you respect them. There are challenges and we try to overcome them.

“I truly beleive the answer to all our problems are quite simple – love and respect for each other”

9. Did you make any friends that have stayed with you over the years while working as an entrepreneur?

I am blessed to have many good friends around the globe. I am a very frequent traveller and have good friends around. If I had to take names, I would like to mention about my school friend Tasnim, Sabrina, Sharmin and would like to mention about a very good friend in the U.K, Mr. Sampat – and his family who had always been supportive and nice.

10. Could you tell us about your first time abroad?

Yes, I vividly remember, it was in Mumbai and I was acompannying my grandmother who was going for her cancer treatment.

11. Tell us about your Future plans, what you want to do personally, professionally and holistically?

I want to see myself as a sound counsellor and advisor to all the kids who want to study either at home or abroad.

On the other hand, I want to see Educational Excellence to grow. We want to be known for our honesty, straight-forward service and one-stop solution.

12. Talk to us about some bad practices among the student placement agencies in Bangladesh.

There is a bad practics of of misleading people in this industry. I genuinely feel the financial irregularity should be stopped in this student placement sector. The world is in your palm now, so my advice will be google, find out and then go for it; don’t jump into any conclusion without knowing much about it.