British Council hosts study UK Alumni awards 2026 in Bangladesh
The British Council recently hosted the fourth edition of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2026 in Bangladesh at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka, recognising the achievements of alumni of UK higher education institutions across multiple sectors.
Bangladesh is among a select group of countries to host a national-level Study UK Alumni Awards ceremony, reflecting the significant contributions of UK-educated professionals in the country.
The event was attended by Dr S M A Faiz, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, as chief guest, alongside James Goldman, Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director. Representatives from UK universities, business leaders and professionals from diverse sectors were also present. The programme included a special musical performance by UK alumnus Habib Wahid, who studied at the School of Audio Engineering in London.
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The awards were presented across three categories—Business and Innovation, Science and Sustainability, and Social Action—celebrating alumni whose work has created meaningful impact in their respective fields.
Stephen Forbes, Country Director Bangladesh of the British Council, said the awards recognised alumni whose leadership and ideas had translated into real-world impact. He said the UK alumni community in Bangladesh continued to play an important role across public service, enterprise, research and social development, strengthening ties between the two countries.
The Science and Sustainability Award was presented to Dr Shomik Maruf, a Chevening Scholar and alumnus of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. A public health innovator, Dr Maruf works on digital surveillance and evidence-based strategies to combat neglected tropical diseases, focusing on cost-effective solutions for underserved communities. The finalists in this category were Dr Md Moyazzem Hossain of Newcastle University and Dr Syed Farid Uddin Farhad of the University of Bristol.
The Business and Innovation Award went to Fasbeer Eskander, an alumnus of University College London and Royal Holloway, University of London. He is the founder of The Front Page, a digital media platform that has introduced new formats for content creation and advertising in Bangladesh.
The Social Action Award was presented to Sumaya Afrin Misti, a Chevening Scholar and alumnus of Nottingham Trent University. A child psychologist, she works to strengthen school-based mental health services through counselling, safeguarding and wellbeing programmes. She is also the co-founder of BloomAid, which focuses on expanding access to evidence-based mental health support. The finalists in this category were Munzereen Shahid of the University of Oxford and Shameem Ara Sheuli of Swansea University.
