Letters from HUAP: Md Tofazzal Islam

This article was published in the Autumn 2023 issue of Litterae Populi. The full issue can be found here.

Dr. Md Tofazzal Islam

Professor and Founding Director, Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University

Graduation ceremony of the first batch of the special English program of the Graduate School of Agriculture of HU (Third from the right, back row).

When I was asked to be a Hokkaido University Ambassador by my teacher, Professor Atsushi Yokota, who is now Executive Vice-President of the University, the words of Professor William Smith Clark, “Boys, be ambitious” first came to my mind. I was very delighted to know that my alma mater was ranked among the top ten universities in the world by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022.

I had the opportunity to do my MS, PhD, and Postdoctoral studies at Hokkaido University from 1997 under the extraordinary guidance of Professor Satoshi Tahara at the Graduate School of Agriculture. There are lots of unforgettable special memories from my life in Sapporo, besides my research activities. In particular, I have a strong impression of meeting then President Mutsuo Nakamura and then Director and Vice President Kenichi Nakamura at the ceremony held in 2005 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh Society Sapporo (BSS).

Members of the Hokkaido University Alumni Association Bangladesh.

Hokkaido University is a seat for higher learning and doing impactful research in the world. The most important aspect of the University is that it offers enormous opportunities to students and researchers for cultural exchange, extracurricular activities, and networking, and is rich in innovation and internationalization. Not only knowledge and research skills, but I also gained the lofty ambition and spirit from Hokkaido University to pioneer my own research. I owe the University for transforming my dream, way of thinking, and mind.

As an Ambassador, I would like to unite all Hokkaido University alumni in Bangladesh and spread the spirit and light of HU to my country and beyond through various academic, social, and cultural activities. We may form interconnected national virtual social platforms for exchanging views and ideas among the alumni, current students, and future students, and also share innovative ideas for the betterment of Hokkaido University. Another idea is to introduce a mentoring system for the current students. Alumni can serve as mentors for the foreign students.

Son, Tahsin Islam Sakif, in front of the monument of Bangladesh language martyrs made by BSS at the Snow Festival of Sapporo

Currently, I am living in the most densely populated city, Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, which is highly different from the well-organized and peaceful city of Sapporo. However, business and hardworking residents in Dhaka seem quite similar to Sapporo. Bangladesh is highly blessed by fertile soils for agriculture, aquaculture, and biodiversity like Hokkaido. The country also has some groups of indigenous people. Bangladesh has the world’s largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans; and the longest unbroken sea beach, the Cox’s Bazar.

My family and I consider Hokkaido to be our second home. I will never forget the sweet memories of the snow festival, the summer festival, playing with snow, delicious foods, the friendship of people, and every precious day in the laboratory. My wife completed her PhD at Hokkaido University, and my son had a wonderful time at the nursery and elementary schools. We are grateful to the numerous people of Sapporo. As members of the Hokkaido University family, we feel proud of and wish to maintain our bond. If I get any opportunity to do something for my alma mater, I never miss it. Welcome to visit Bangladesh and allow us an opportunity to be your host.

My family at the longest sea beach in the world, Cox’s Bazar.

This article was published in the Autumn 2023 issue of Litterae Populi. The full issue can be found here.