I am a Secular Humanist
I consider myself a relentlessly honest, day-and-night worker - driven not just by survival, but by a deep desire to help others truly feel alive
I am a humanist, a human rights worker, and an activist. I speak out for people’s rights and fight for equal dignity for all. Because I expose the darker sides of religion, speak up for women’s rights, and advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, religious extremists in my birth country have repeatedly threatened to kill me.
Surviving in Bangladesh while criticizing Islam is extremely difficult. Many bloggers, writers, and activists have been murdered or permanently disabled by radical Islamists. A mob once gathered in front of my house with the intent to kill me. Later they attacked me. I still carry permanent scars on my body from that assault. Even now, they send me death threats. When they can’t find me, they gather mobs and go to my village home to vandalize the property.
Though I was born in a country, my struggle for human rights has left me without a homeland.
I’m someone who sees life through a positive lens. There are countless things I love to do, to witness, and to experience.
I love science. I love innovation. I love to experiment.
I love reading and writing, thinking and dreaming, speaking and listening.
I love watching the sunrise in the morning and basking in moonlight at night. I love the way music washes over me, and the feeling of ocean wind rolling in as I breathe it in.
I love gazing at clouds with a quiet, empty mind, and running thought experiments when sleep slips away in the middle of the night.
I love spring flowers, summer rain, autumn leaves, and the chill of winter.
I love sleeping deep into the night and waking up late. I love solitude – and I love the company of others.
I love the peace of the countryside and the noise of the metropolis. I love good books and romantic films.
I love the land and its nature.
I love people. And I love to laugh.
“Humanity First” is the guiding principle behind all my actions. I am a dedicated advocate and defender of human rights, committed to building a peaceful world – one that rises above divisions of religion, race, nationality, language, borders, and color. I hold deep respect and love for animals, plants, and the natural environment.
My family was economically poor, yet they always encouraged me to pursue education and the quest for knowledge. We lived in a remote village blessed with natural beauty – lush fields, quiet rivers, and vibrant greenery that made every season feel magical. But getting to school wasn’t easy. The roads were muddy and barely walkable, especially during the rainy season. Each journey felt like a battle against the elements, but we pressed on.
I purchased my first computer in the final quarter of 2003, during my university years – a chapter defined by struggle and perseverance. Financial constraints made it impossible for my family to afford one. Out of the 31 students in my class, only three of us, including me, didn’t own a computer. It was a tremendous challenge, especially given how essential it was for both academic and personal growth.
Remarkably, I began learning programming before I even had a computer of my own. I would borrow my classmates’ machines late at night, often while they were asleep. Not everyone was thrilled, but my deep desire to learn kept me going – there were simply no alternatives.
Eventually, my family came together in an extraordinary show of support. My father borrowed money, my mother withdrew her modest savings, my grandmother sold her pet cow, and I contributed the scholarship funds I had saved. Even then, we were short of the $300 needed. So I took on tutoring jobs, traveling to students’ homes to teach and earn extra income. Through these combined efforts, I finally bought my first computer – an unforgettable milestone in my life.
*** A humanist is a person who believes in the importance of human welfare, dignity, and potential, often emphasizing reason and science over religious dogma, and dedicating themselves to improving the human condition. The term also refers to a historical Renaissance movement focused on classical learning and secular thought, and today describes a broad philosophy and ethical framework centered on human values and a naturalistic worldview.
