A Bangladeshi engineering student won an award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), one of the most well-known names in the field of engineering.
This year, two students got the award in the student leadership category. Marcus Lane from Purdue University in the United States received the first prize, while Toukir Ahmed Chowdhury from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Bangladesh, won the silver prize. He was awarded the Charles T. Main silver award, named after renowned American engineer Charles T. Main.
ASME considers people who have been actively involved in leadership and voluntary activities while being a member of ASME. They need to be actively involved in leadership and voluntary activities for at least one year while being a part of ASME to be considered for this award.
"I served as the Public Relations Secretary of the ASME CUET Student Chapter in 2020–21. From the very beginning, I involved myself closely with this organisation and tried to give my best in all aspects," Toukir told Bangla Daily Prothom Alo.
"From organising various online programs to inviting guests, making presentations, and solving various problems, I have been involved in various activities during the Corona period."
The authority of ASME employed Toukir as the Vice Chairperson for the regional board of Asia-Pacific students in the session 2020–21.
Toukir was assigned the task of directing a team comprised of students from India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, where he worked to improve various skills of the students as well as facilitate different aspects of their mental health.
As per Toukir, he never thought of any prize while working for ASME; rather, he was more focused on involving himself in something productive.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the academic activities of many universities in Bangladesh came to a standstill. Toukir indulged himself more in those activities to enhance various soft and technical skills that would come in handy for him in other stages of his life.
Toukir was first inspired by seeing an Indian member of ASME win the award in 2021. He got an amount of US$2,000 with a silver medal and a certificate, courtesy of winning the prize.
Toukir has recently graduated from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, and he thinks that in the near future, there will be more and more Bangladeshis eligible to win the award.
