This academic year, the Harvard Bangladeshi Students’ Association (HBSA) was founded as a University-wide recognized student organization to build community, amplify Bangladeshi voices, and create spaces for cultural celebration, professional development, and advocacy. The Mittal Institute spoke with president Moomtahina Fatima, vice-president Khondoker Nazmoon Nabi, and treasurer Safwan Hossain about the mission of their group, their inaugural event on February 21, and what role Harvard students from Bangladesh and other diaspora members can take in engaging on challenges that Bangladesh faces today.
Mittal Institute: Thank you, Moomtahina, Khondoker, and Safwan, for speaking to us! Can you share where you come from and why you are passionate about uniting Bangladeshi students at Harvard?
Moomtahina Fatima
Moomtahina: I was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and completed my MBBS from Mymensingh Medical College. Over the years, I’ve lived in different parts of Bangladesh, which gave me a deep appreciation for the diversity within our own community. Throughout my academic and professional journey, I’ve had the opportunity to lead and work with various student organizations, and I witnessed firsthand how powerful it is when communities unite around shared values—especially when it comes to youth advocacy and professional growth.
After moving to the U.S. in 2023 for my master’s at Harvard Medical School, I was excited to see that there were many Bangladeshi students, alumni, and affiliates connected to Harvard. But I also noticed how scattered and disconnected our community was, mainly due to the lack of a unified platform. This fragmentation limited our collective potential—not just socially, but also professionally. That’s what sparked the idea behind the Harvard Bangladeshi Students’ Association (HBSA).
Khondoker Nazmoon Nabi
Khondoker: I was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where I completed my BSc and MS in Mathematics from the University of Dhaka. After that, I joined the Department of Mathematics at BUET as a lecturer and was later promoted to Assistant Professor. These experiences—both as a student and an educator—shaped my deep commitment to academic excellence, mentorship, and community building.
In 2022, I moved to the U.S. to pursue a PhD in Biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. While I was thrilled to be part of such a vibrant academic environment, I quickly noticed that Bangladeshi students across Harvard were largely unconnected. Despite our strong presence, we lacked a unified platform to come together, share experiences, and support one another.
That’s what inspired me to help establish the Harvard Bangladeshi Students’ Association (HBSA). My passion lies in building a supportive and inclusive community where Bangladeshi students can grow—academically, professionally, and personally. I truly believe that when we come together, we’re not only preserving and promoting our cultural heritage—we’re also building a foundation that allows us to help each other thrive and make a meaningful impact, both here at Harvard and beyond.
Safwan Hossain
Safwan: I was born in Chittagong and moved to Canada when I was 11. Despite leaving at a young age, I maintained a deep appreciation for my homeland and its unique and beautiful culture. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto in Electrical and Computer Engineering and subsequently worked as a machine learning engineer for a couple of years. I joined Harvard in 2022 as a PhD student in the Computer Science department.
At Harvard, I found there was a strong need for a Bangladeshi community, especially amongst the graduate and professional school students. I wanted to connect with my community here and build a space for new incoming students. Further, creating HBSA would also allow us to celebrate the unique culture of Bangladesh with the broader Harvard community!
Mittal Institute: What are your goals as a student group? And what are your values?
Moomtahina: Our goal is to foster a strong sense of belonging, bridge disciplines, and empower the next generation of Bangladeshi leaders through mentorship, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Importantly, we also aim to be a voice for Bangladeshi affairs at Harvard—something I’ve seen students from other countries do incredibly well, especially in areas like healthcare and education policy. HBSA aspires to create that same impact for Bangladesh.
Nabi: As a student group, our primary goal is to build a vibrant and united community of Bangladeshi students, scholars, and affiliates across Harvard. We want HBSA to be a space where people feel a genuine sense of belonging—regardless of their discipline, background, or stage in their academic journey.
We want HBSA to be a space where people feel a genuine sense of belonging—regardless of their discipline, background, or stage in their academic journey.
Our vision is twofold: first, to create a strong support system that helps our members thrive both academically and professionally through mentorship, networking, and collaborative opportunities. Second, to serve as a platform for celebrating and promoting Bangladeshi culture, language, and perspectives within the broader Harvard community. Ultimately, our goal is to not only uplift our members, but also to contribute meaningfully to global conversations—especially in areas like education, health, climate, and social justice—through a distinctly Bangladeshi lens.
Attendees of HBSA’s inauguration on February 21 at Harvard.
Mittal Institute: You held your inauguration event on February 21, the International Mother Language Day. This day was chosen by UNESCO in 1999 as a tribute to the 1952 protests in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) for recognition of the Bengali language. What role does Bangla have in your group?
Nabi: Choosing February 21—International Mother Language Day—for our inauguration was deeply intentional and symbolic. The day honors the 1952 Language Movement in what was then East Pakistan, where students sacrificed their lives to defend the right to speak and preserve the Bangla language. That movement is not just a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s history—it’s a testament to the power of language in shaping identity, unity, and resistance.
For the Harvard Bangladeshi Students’ Association (HBSA), Bangla is more than just a means of communication—it’s a cornerstone of our cultural and historical identity. Language carries the weight of our stories, our struggles, and our resilience. Through HBSA, we hope to create spaces where Bangla is not only spoken and celebrated but also honored as a vital part of who we are—whether that’s through poetry, music, storytelling, or simply connecting with each other in our mother tongue.
Language carries the weight of our stories, our struggles, and our resilience. Through HBSA, we hope to create spaces where Bangla is not only spoken and celebrated but also honored as a vital part of who we are.
By foregrounding Bangla in our group’s activities, we aim to foster intergenerational and cross-disciplinary dialogue, preserve our linguistic heritage, and remind ourselves—and others—that language is a powerful force for belonging and change. It’s our way of paying tribute to those who came before us while empowering those who are yet to come.
Mittal Institute: What did it take to found the group at Harvard? How did you come up with the group’s mission, logo, etc., and what was the support like from the campus?
Moomtahina: One of the biggest hurdles of founding HBSA was meeting the official requirement of having at least 20 current, degree-seeking Harvard students as members. Although HBSA is open to all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background, it was difficult at first to identify and connect with current students who were either Bangladeshi or had a genuine interest in Bangladeshi affairs. Building that network from the ground up took time and persistence.
When I first shared the idea of HBSA with Nabi and Safwan, everything just clicked. They both recognized the same gap and were excited to co-lead this effort. As we reached out to more Bangladeshi students across Harvard—some of whom are now part of our executive team—we had thoughtful discussions about the need for a unified group and refined its mission together.
For our logo, we wanted it to authentically reflect Bangladesh’s rich heritage and its connection to Harvard. If you look closely, you’ll see the Bangladeshi flag, the Royal Bengal Tiger, and traditional motifs like Jamdani and hand-stitched patterns—all intentionally woven together to honor both our roots and where we are now.
We’re deeply grateful for the support we received across campus. Marshall Page, Associate Director for Student Engagement at the Harvard Office of the Provost, was incredibly helpful throughout the founding and application process. And when we were searching for a sponsoring unit, the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute warmly welcomed us. Selmon Rafey, in particular, was quick to respond and coordinated with us to become our official sponsoring unit, which meant a lot during those early stages.
Dr. Ruhul Abid, Associate Professor at Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, spoke at the inauguration of HBSA on February 21.
Mittal Institute: What role do you think Harvard students from Bangladesh and other diaspora members can take in engaging on challenges that Bangladesh faces today?
Moomtahina: Harvard students from Bangladesh and the broader diaspora can play a vital role in addressing some of the pressing challenges the country faces today, ranging from climate change and rapid urbanization to healthcare inequities, education reform, and labor rights. Bangladesh is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, grappling with rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the displacement of vulnerable communities. At the same time, the country faces high rates of non-communicable diseases, limited access to quality maternal and reproductive healthcare, and growing gaps in digital health infrastructure—all of which demand urgent and innovative solutions.
From my personal experience working with students in Bangladesh, I’ve witnessed the immense potential they hold to thrive in world-class academic environments like Harvard. However, many of these talented individuals lack the support, mentorship, and reassurance that comes from seeing someone from a similar background succeed. Knowing that someone from your own country—who has walked a familiar path—has made it to Harvard can be incredibly empowering and transformative.
Knowing that someone from your own country—who has walked a familiar path—has made it to Harvard can be incredibly empowering and transformative.
HBSA is committed to bridging that gap. By offering mentorship, resources, and a supportive community, we aim to inspire and guide aspiring Bangladeshi students in pursuing opportunities at Harvard and beyond. In turn, with their academic training, global perspectives, and cultural understanding, these students will be well-prepared to contribute meaningfully to addressing Bangladesh’s key challenges. That way, Harvard students from Bangladesh and the diaspora can serve as powerful connectors—bridging local realities with global expertise. They can drive impact through research, policy development, capacity building, and entrepreneurship while uplifting community-based solutions.
From left to right: Khondoker Nazmoon Nabi, Moomtahina Fatima, Safwan Hossain
Mittal Institute: What’s on the horizon – what do you have planned for this semester?
Moomtahina: This semester, we are organizing a vibrant get-together for students, alumni, and affiliates to celebrate Pohela Boishakh and Eid—two of the most significant and widely celebrated cultural events in Bangladesh. This will be a post-Eid and Pohela Boishakh celebration, tentatively scheduled for the end of April. It will be a joyful gathering centered on community, culture, and connection. We look forward to sharing more details as soon as the logistics are finalized. In addition, we plan to host a series of online events, including informational sessions on mentorship opportunities, networking events, and other initiatives aimed at fostering academic and professional growth among Bangladeshi students at Harvard.
Mittal Institute: Are you in touch with other student groups on campus, including the Bengali Association of Students at Harvard (BASHA) based at Harvard College?
Moomtahina: Yes, we plan to collaborate actively with other student groups on campus, especially those connected to the South Asian region. We were in touch with BASHA for our launch event and aim to build a strong and ongoing connection moving forward. BASHA has done an outstanding job in promoting and celebrating Bengali culture, and we warmly welcome them—and all other student groups—to collaborate with HBSA, become members, and join our future events. We firmly believe that collaboration is key to building a vibrant and united community.
Mittal Institute: How can people get in touch with you?
Moomtahina: We have a launched a website where we will post updates about upcoming events, elections, and all things related to our group. We can be reached on Instagram and by email at “bsaharvard@gmail.com”. Additionally, here’s is HBSA’s membership signup link. Additionally, the three of us are happy to be contacted via LinkedIn. We look forward to connecting, collaborating, and building a strong, supportive community together!
☆ The views represented herein are those of the interview subject and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Mittal Institute, its staff, or its Steering Committee.
