Two Bangladeshis make Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list

Two Bangladeshis have made the 2017 version of Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Asia list.

Md Mizanur Rahman, who founded an organisation to support those with physical disabilities, and Shougat Nazbin Khan, the founder of a digital school for the rural poor, are featured in the US-based magazine’s section on social entrepreneurs.

The list highlights 300 young Asian innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders changing the world in ten different categories. The 2017 list is the second compiled for the Asia Pacific region.

Md Mizanur Rahman founded the Physically-challenged Development Foundation (PDF) in 2008 at Jahangir Nagar University.

The organisation attempts to improve the lives of the disabled, create social awareness and acceptance of disabilities, develop the potential of disabled youth and encourage active citizenship.

The non-profit organises a variety of programmes, including a campus Disability Friendly Program to introduce ideas of inclusivity to students with disabilities and develop their potential, the PDF

Scholarship to assist brilliant students with disabilities, the PDF Summer Challenge where 20 teams compete to bring positive change to society and the PDF Sports Programme.

In 2015, Rahman was also recognised as a 'Young Achiever of Bangladesh' by The Daily Star and also received the Atlas Corps Fellowship.

Shougat Nazbin Khan founded HA Digital School & College on her family’s land in Mymensingh’s Tarakanda Upazila.

The school attempts to provide quality education for the rural poor through the use of digital tools. It charges minimal tuition and provides students with free textbooks, school uniforms and transport, and has, to date, helped more than 600 students.

Khan received the Commonwealth Award for Youth for Asia in 2016 for her work. She is also an innovator in the field of renewable energy, winning the Green Talent award in 2015 for developing a low-cost solar irrigation system.