I realised after my experience as a student in the UK that study in the UK is more practical oriented. It helped develop my career as an engineer and taught me to navigate successfully small to large scale projects locally and internationally and to work with multi-disciplinary teams in a multi-cultural working environment.''
- Md. Abdur Razzaque, Executive Director, Axis Design Consultants Limited
I am Md. Abdur Razzaque. I did Master of Science (Engineering) in Construction Engineering (Construction Management) from the University of Leeds in 1991. I am currently working in Axis Design Consultants Limited, an engineering and full design service company in Bangladesh as Executive Director.
I was awarded a scholarship sponsored by the British Council to pursue Master of Science (Engineering) in Construction Engineering at the University of Leeds, UK. It helped me achieve a milestone in my professional career as it paved the way to compete with distinction a long-term assignment as Lead Engineer and Structural Coordinator during the design and construction of the renowned Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)'s official definition and ranking, Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers in the world.
After the completion of my postgraduate studies in the UK, I returned to Bangladesh and joined my previous employer, Public Works Department (PWD) of Bangladesh. In 1994, I got an opportunity to work on an international project in Malaysia. I am certain that my advanced study in the UK was one of the prime factors for receiving this opportunity as my employers highly valued my UK degree.
Initially, it was not easy settling into Leeds but soon I started enjoying myself immensely and Leeds started to feel like home. I still remember ‘Leeds 11’ from where I would take the bus which would take me straight to the door of the Civil Engineering Department on time every day.
I cherish my studies and memories in the UK, especially the cooperation and support I received from faculty members and my classmates. I realised after my experience as a student in the UK that study in the UK is more practical oriented. It helped develop my career as an engineer and taught me to navigate successfully small to large scale projects locally and internationally and to work with multi-disciplinary teams in a multi-cultural working environment.
The only advice I would give students of Bangladesh who want to study in the UK is that the sky is the limit and you should just go for it. Nothing is impossible and there is no short cut way of success. You need to work hard with integrity.
My journey does not end here. I have tall dreams for Bangladesh too. I want to develop Bangladeshi engineers, in particular, structural engineers to a global standard and open a window for them to work globally.