I Am Asif

Any promotion, increment or new position according to organizational policy is of course very encouraging, but what's even more inspiring than all of this is the genuine, sincere mutual appreciation and respect. Yesterday, our EEE Green family organized a beautiful get-together, where several of us including myself were recognized for their contributions towards the department, achievements in research and their recent promotions. These gestures mean a lot for developing a strong bond between the members of the team, and for creating a sense of ownership.

Never thought I'd be awarded in any way for my research work, but quite amazingly that happened! Alhamdulillah!! Really delighted to have received Research Award 2021 from Green University of Bangladesh. It's truly an inspiring recognition for me. 

অনেক দিন ধরে ইচ্ছা ছিল এই কবিতাটা নিয়ে একটা ভিডিও বানাবো। বাবাকে সারপ্রাইজ দিবো। বাবার লেখা অসংখ্য কবিতা বা হামিদ-নাত এর মধ্যে কেন যেন বারবার এই কবিতাটার প্রতি আমি আকৃষ্ট হই।  

If we're working in our office sitting in a comfortable chair, our computer and other work supplies organized on the desk, ready at hand; and the room temperature maintained at a comfortable cool by the air conditioner; we should be thankful. We should be grateful for the blessings that we have. Our work station could have been just like the one of this old man. Despite having the educational backgrounds many don't have, despite having a steady job that gives us a stable income, we're always finding excuses to be disappointed. Disappointed that our job is not 'rewarding' enough. Disappointed that our work is not 'fulfilling' enough. And due to these weak and made up excuses, we are insincere in the tasks that we perform. We don't put all our efforts into the responsibilities that we need to fulfill.  And yet, look at this old man. He's probably lived doing the same job for more than 50 years and lived in the same economic conditions for m...

  Another Session With Our New Colleagues A few days ago I was yet again honored to be invited as a Resource Person to conduct a module for the CTL program of Green University of Bangladesh. In this session I focused on how we can make our presentation content more effective and engaging. This workshop is regularly held each semester for the newly recruited faculty members of the university. In short, I wanted to emphasize on changing our mindset about presentations in general. Instead of using presentations for putting up a lot of text and info on the screen for the audience to read, we should consider presentations as opportunities to tell a story. The focus should be on the presenter, and what they're saying, expressing, or explaining. The slides, or any other media for that matter, should just be considered as a tool for that storytelling. Alhamdulillah, yet again I really enjoyed facilitating the module. Thanks to CETL for giving me this opportunity!

When we spend time in the company of Nature, we feel alive, we feel refreshed. Those of us trapped in the nine-to-five are always looking for the long weekend to head out of the city limits, to get closer to a nature environment. But do we always need to travel far to get in touch with Nature? Perhaps we could embrace the nature that surrounds us all the time. May be all we need is to find some time to look for it, and let it through.  Yesterday afternoon. I know had some tasks to cover, documents to prepare, sessions to attend..... but then it started to rain. And what a beautiful rain it was! So I freed myself for this rain, from the mundane routine of work. Dear rain, I'll make time for you, any day of the week, any time of the day or night. [Full screen and headphones recommended!]

Once a great Sultan called someone in his court and instructed him to craft a ring. The ring must have an inscription, a sentence, such that, whenever the Sultan would read it, it will bring him to reality. In times of prosperity, it will keep him humble; in times of despair it will keep him from sorrow and depression.  The person returned to him after a few days with a ring, which had inscribed on it :  "This too, will pass". Surely, the moments we pass, the phases of life we go through, are all very temporary and short-lived. No matter how big the achievement, or how huge the failure, or how sad the recent events, this time, will indeed pass.  So in fact, there's nothing to be carried away with. No amount of success should ever make us proud and arrogant. Because it's just a matter of time till it goes away from our life. Similarly, no grief, no loss should ever be able to depress us and send us into dark, deep despair, as surely with time, long or short...

Wherever I'm gonna put myself to work, whether at office, or at home, I absolutely have to make sure my environment is setup for my needs. My workspace needs to be effective (with just the things I need, nothing more, nothing less) and comfortable. Over the last year or so, my home office has gone through gradual changes. But the current state is something I can be very happy about.