HOW ENGLISH-MEDIUM STUDENTS ARE SHAPING GLOBAL FUTURES

Bangladeshi talent is increasingly gaining international recognition, unlocking further latent potential as individuals continue to make their mark on the global stage – often drawing directly on the world-class education they received at English-medium schools in Bangladesh.

These early educational institutions have played a crucial role not only in developing strong English proficiency and communication skills, but also in nurturing confidence, critical thinking, and research-based learning.
Participation in debates, presentations, and a wide range of co-curricular activities has further equipped students with effective decision-making abilities and leadership skills.
Internationally benchmarked curricula, combined with exposure to multicultural learning environments, have positioned English-medium students from Bangladesh competitively on the global stage.
As a result, graduates of these institutions are securing admission to world-renowned universities such as Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, the University of Sussex, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Imperial College London. 
Many are also excelling across diverse disciplines, including science, technology, medicine, economics, law, and the creative arts.
After completing higher education at leading universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and across Europe, many Bangladeshi graduates are now working at internationally recognised organisations such as Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Moynat, ActionAid, the United Nations, and the World Bank. 
Others have gone on to establish themselves as entrepreneurs, showcasing Bangladeshi innovation and leadership in the global marketplace.
Yasir Bin Baqui is currently engaged in aerospace engineering research after completing his PhD on Rotating Turbulence at the University of Cambridge. 
He has been serving as president, CEO, and co-founder of Ranx since August 2012. Yasir completed his high-school education at Cider International School in Chattogram between 1997 and 2003.
“I think my school days built my foundation, making me confident and ambitious. My teachers always encouraged me to follow my dreams and work passionately to realise them. My school has had a profound impact on me. Today, when I look back, I feel gratitude towards my school and teachers,” Yasir Bin Baqui said, reflecting on his formative years.
His brother, Yamin Bin Baqui, completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge on sound generation from coherent structures in subsonic jets. A Co-founder and COO of Ranx, Yamin is also an alumnus of Cider International School and was a visiting undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering and Economics at Harvard University.
Aydha Mehnaz, global brand relations lead at renowned French luxury brand Moynat, earned a prestigious place on the “Forbes 30 Under 30” list in 2025 for her exceptional achievements. 

She holds a master’s degree in International Fashion and Luxury Brand Management from ESMOD Fashion School in Paris, with further specialisation in brand communication. 
Before completing her A Levels at Mastermind School in Dhaka, she also studied at BAF Shaheen English Medium School.
Under her leadership, Mugler’s media impact value rose from US$58 million to $200 million – a metric calculated based on the brand’s media placements and mentions – reflecting Mehnaz’s remarkable success in her role. 
As a brown-skinned woman from a developing country, she faced significant challenges breaking into the Western fashion industry, particularly in France.
Zaheed Sabur, Senior Director and the first Bangladeshi Distinguished Engineer at Google, is an alumnus of Oxford International School, Dhaka. 
He graduated from American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) with a degree in Computer Engineering, achieving a perfect 4.0 CGPA – an unprecedented record in the university’s history. 
He is widely recognised as a key driving force behind the Google Gemini app.
Sabur began his career in 2007 as a software engineer, working on Google’s backend system development project at the company’s Bengaluru office before moving to California six months later. In May 2019, he was promoted to principal engineer and director at Google’s Zurich office.
Adnan MS Fakir is another Bangladeshi talent who has secured a place among the world’s leading economic researchers. 
He currently serves as an associate professor of economics at the University of Sussex and as Faculty Education Enhancement Lead for the Business School.
A former faculty member at BRAC University in Bangladesh and the University of Western Australia, Adnan earned his PhD in Economics from the University of Western Australia and his MSc in Economics from the University of Sussex. 
His research focuses on development economics, with particular emphasis on health, political economy, labour, and gender.

A former consultant to the Mind, Behaviour and Development (eMBeD) Unit, the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice, and the Education Global Practice at the World Bank, Adnan is also a documentary filmmaker by passion and an alumnus of Scholastica.
Reflecting on his school years, he said, “My school life was full of fun. I never felt any pressure. Instead, I discovered my school as a place of joy and inspiration. My school not only encouraged academic learning but also motivated me to develop new ideas and participate in extracurricular activities. The seed for filmmaking was planted there.”
The contributions of English-medium graduates are increasingly visible within Bangladesh as well. Young professionals from such backgrounds are performing with distinction in multinational corporations, the technology sector, entrepreneurship, and policy-making spaces, bringing fresh perspectives by blending international exposure with local insight.

Farah Kabir has served as country director of ActionAid Bangladesh since June 2007. With more than two decades of experience in development practice and research, she has earned a strong reputation nationally and internationally as a principled human rights defender, consistently speaking out against injustice and rights violations.
At ActionAid Bangladesh, she has led long-term advocacy and partnership initiatives with national and global institutions to strengthen support for marginalised communities and advance women’s leadership. 
A student of public administration and policy, and recipient of the prestigious Nawab Ali Chowdhury National Award 2012, Kabir guided ActionAid to win both the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Momentum for Change 2013 Lighthouse Activity on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Resilience.
Dr Naveed Asif Ahmed is a physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at BIRDEM General Hospital. Alongside his clinical practice, he is actively involved in international research on childhood-onset diabetes and other chronic diseases. He is also a member of the Perinatal Care Project (PCP) team – a collaborative initiative of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS), Women & Children First (UK), and the University College London Centre for International Health and Development (CIHD) – which aims to improve maternal and newborn health in rural Bangladesh.
A Scholastica alumnus, Naveed enrolled at Bangladesh Medical College (BMC), Dhaka, in 2001 and completed his MBBS in 2006. Following a one-year internship and clinical training at Bangladesh Medical College Hospital (BMCH), he obtained his Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) licence in 2008.
Recalling his school days, Naveed – an avid cricket enthusiast – said, “From the moment I joined the school, my goal was to earn a place on the cricket team. I soon realised that securing a spot was far more challenging than achieving top academic results. One of my proudest memories at Scholastica is being part of what I believe was one of the finest school cricket teams in the country’s history.”
“Scholastica not only gave me the opportunity to excel in sports but also helped build a strong academic foundation. Beyond academics and athletics, it gave me a circle of lifelong friends whose bonds I continue to cherish,” he added.
Iresh Zaker, a Scholastica alumnus, is a national award-winning actor who has also established himself as a business leader, redefining modern Bangladeshi enterprises through innovation in branding, creativity, and sustainability.
As group managing director of Asiatic 3sixty, Iresh has played a pivotal role in shaping brand communication and corporate storytelling in Bangladesh. 
He has consistently demonstrated that strong brands are built not merely on advertising, but on clear purpose, emotional connection with audiences, authentic narratives rooted in values, and consistent communication across platforms.
Despite growing up under the expectations associated with being the son of celebrated cultural icons Aly Zaker and Sara Zaker, Iresh forged his own identity as an actor, earning the admiration of millions through his performances. 
He is also known as a musician, photographer, humourist, and passionate animal lover.