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| Artwork by Md. Jarif Alam |
By Surayia Rahman
Amidst a world sometimes consumed by self-interest, there emerges a rare kind – individuals like Murshidul Alam Bhuiyan. Through Team Bertho, he doesn't merely gather stories; he delicately weaves them into a heartfelt tapestry of human connection that spans the globe—a living testament to compassion in its purest form.
From his early school days to the zenith of his humanitarian mission, Murshidul's journey stands as a testament to the potent force of empathy. As Murshidul collects stories from all over the world, we make an attempt to uncover his, by having an exchange of words with the individuals whom he holds very close to his heart.
Helal Sir and Mojumder Sir, all-time guidance: Helal Sir, Murshidul's scout teacher, recalls his inquisitive nature since childhood and his passion to help people. A dedicated scout enthusiast, Murshidul effortlessly balanced academics and scouting, emerging victorious in his personal battles. Seeking life guidance from Helal Sir post-SSC, he embraced this simple principle, "Be a good human being." Their bond remains strong, with Murshidul's updates and nostalgic gestures like sharing his lunch in childhood. Helal Sir aspires to witness Murshidul's tenacity in all his students.
Similarly, Mojumder Sir, who's known Murshidul since primary school, echoes these sentiments, expressing pride in his international recognition. Seeking Mojumder Sir's counsel for various projects, Murshidul's journey continues to shape.
Ludmila, non-blood twins: From unlikely beginnings to now playfully dubbing each other 'twins', Ludmila and Murshidul's connection was sparked by a shared set of probing questions. Their nearly identical viewpoints led to a strong rapport, fueled by relatable thoughts. Ludmila specially appreciates the aura Murshidul brings to the room with his genuine smile and his ability to make people smile. Murshidul's philosophical nature and the special term 'Partho' bind them further. Amidst their bond, “Murshidul's penchant for cracking and defending cheesy jokes is a constant source of amusement”, Ludmila points out as Murshidul quotes, “Nobody knows me better than her.”
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| Ludmila and Murshid |
Faiaz, determined souls: Friends since grade 1, their journey intertwined with Team Bertho. Their shared perspectives fuelled Team Bertho's evolution from humour to profound stories. Murshidul's quiet but friendly nature in class caught Faiaz's attention. Despite differences, he connected with everyone. Faiaz noticed that Murshidul excels in professional conversations, but casual chats make him hesitant. He recalls their memories such as how they persevered through a video shooting in a scorching Ramadan, or their collaborative photo series on Valentine's Day, which showcased Murshidul's determination and ability to lead under pressure. As founders drifted due to work-life balance, Murshidul expanded the joint projects, updating the circle from time to time. "Even now, he beckons us to leap into spontaneous projects and ideas," Faiaz fondly emphasizes. Faiaz often playfully nudges him as everything but romantic. A champion of humanity, he balances fun with a serious demeanour for Team Bertho.
Elsa, soulful connections: UK's Evergreen Elsa finds Murshidul incredibly caring and thoughtful, a rare trait in his extent of attention to detail. He is down-to-earth, approachable, and ensures regular catch-ups. Their conversations make Elsa perceives the notion as if he's addressing the entire world. Whenever they chat, Elsa feels that Murshidul is this ‘whimsical viewfinder’ of viewing seeing the shebang from a completely different angle. While their souls dance in integrity, they interestingly bond over their shared interest in dancing.
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| Murshidul and Elsa (UK) |
Risad, soulful kinship: Both of their parents being school in-charges, Risad and Murshidul's friendship traces back to their grade 1 classroom where they found their own corner, where their companionship took away the bustling distractions of the world around them. Helal Sir's endearing fondness, playfully evoking the term 'Bertho,' despite its English translation as 'Failure,' left an indelible mark on them. This is how the name Team Bertho came to be. Aside that, they sparked shared enthusiasm, which later aspired the duo to become the human beings they are today. The experience of engaging with larger groups through scouting facilitated a transformative shift, ultimately dissolving that barrier of blending into casual conversations, Risad recalls. Despite their contrasting tastes in movies and music—thrillers and metals for Risad, soft films and poetry for Murshidul, their matched perspectives about life couldn’t overshadow that. Despite life's busyness, Murshidul's contagious enthusiasm prevails, along with his commitment to Team Bertho. Their friendship reverberates with laughter and long discussions about Murshidul’s human-life centric projects. Risad's words, 'Caring and unique, Murshidul's creativity stands unmatched.' He concluded on a note remembering a talent of his friend, “… but as life unfolded, Murshidul's gifted, melodic voice of singing found itself on a temporary pause.”
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| From left to right: Risad, Murshidul, and Faiaz |
Prang, nurturing souls together: Initiated by a speaking invitation (2020) that showcased Murshidul's compelling persuasion, Prang from Thailand found herself stepping out of her comfort zone as Murshidul encouraged her. United by a fervour for humanitarian efforts, they share a common dedication to social change. Prang admits that she sees him as a ‘source of tenacity’. On one quiet evening, Murshidul showed a treasured notebook to Prang where he wrote down his own depictions on the people he has made acquaintances with. Seeing something so unique, Prang commented that he’s a passionate people-whisperer with the power to dive into people's minds, make instant connections, and spot details that others might miss. It's like he's got his own personalized pair of ‘people goggles’. She also recognizes an ‘easy-going yet impactful individual’ and a ‘master observer’ who invests energy to elevate lives and comprehends the intricate human mind in Murshidul.
Sazid, bonds beyond measure: The genesis of their friendship blossomed after high school, initiated by a short film discussion, their fellowship grew. Sazid's perception of Murshidul as straightforward and friendly forged a spark that ranges from movies, music, and warm camaraderie along with matched mindsets to backing each other amidst heated debates. Murshidul's affable nature and conversational skills, born of contemplation, seamlessly interlace with his ability to connect with others. "Murshidul is a person who thinks a lot", Sazid comments. He thinks that another thing that deepened the friendship is the common fascination for studying individuals and delving into their thoughts and minds. A plethora of inside riddles, (‘Babumoshai’ being a special one)—brings meaning to their friendship. Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, one of Murshidul's love languages is basically all about dishing out those quirky nicknames! A shared delight in analysing movie characters remains a testament to the delightful synergy between Murshidul and Sazid.
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| Sazid and Murshidul |
Yasmeen, unbounded echoes: In their distinct pursuits- Yasmeen with her community workshops and Murshidul in Project Management - their worlds intertwined two years ago. Different corners of the world, time zones or cultures couldn’t impede their tie. Their first online conversation sparked a destined connection, touching on philosophy, poetry, and music. She focused more on what they had in common, radiating power of thoughts- which nurtured their fellowship. She also points out that a huge chunk of their friendship is all about having a blast discussing all sorts of books. Still now, whenever she feels low, he somehow feels it, “That’s what friends are for, they should ‘know’.” He possesses the uncanny ability like a ‘sage’ to evoke emotions in people which describes his identifiable trait: altruism.
“If I had to choose one word for him, it’d be ‘kind’. I believe that everyone can be nice but not everyone can be kind. It’s something deep-rooted in the heart, and Murshidul just unearths these feelings in the earth. I hope his mark in the world is seen,” Yasmeen adds.
Yasmeen concludes, suggesting an idea: Murshidul should pen a poem about himself, as a way to delve deeper, showcasing his story to the world.
Fatiha, narrative allies: During a tough phase in her life, Murshidul told Fatiha, “I believe that we grow up in life to the meanings of our names.” And Fatiha means ‘Victory’. Whenever they meet, Murshidul has stories to share with Fatiha - from life updates to the antics of a roadside tree. Goofy and caring, he brings thoughtful gifts, and they engage in deep conversations about life decisions, even discussing disagreements. Fatiha values Murshidul's trust in himself. Words like trustworthy, loyal, and talkative describe Murshidul for Fatiha. They share personal matters. A mysterious, synchronized ‘telepathic connection’ seems to link them- because whenever Fatiha is feeling upset, she’s sure to get a call from her dear friend who’d be there to make her laugh again.
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| Fatiha and Murshidul |
Faria, a friend of all seasons: Murshidul and Faria's paths converged in high-school, setting the stage for a friendship that would span seven years. However, it was within the corridors of Team Bertho, that their connection thrived. Faria, an adept scriptwriter, breathed life into the stories they gathered, and their discussions flowed like a melody. “Murshidul creates an atmosphere of ease that draws people into his orbit”, as Faria states. The camaraderie birthed a psychological connection that kept resonating. Murshidul's talent for spinning tales transformed ‘mundane instances into enthralments’, a skill that added layers to their bond. Faria shared that Murshidul's warmth offered solace to personal troubles. Yet, she noted his hesitance to share his own challenges. Him playfully christening Faria with playful names is something that Faria can never get tired of, alongside the wholesome stories they were a part of, and the memories they are still creating together. Through ups and downs, Murshidul and Faria showcased the resilience of true companionship.
Shejuti, moonlit connection: A fun word being spoken whenever they see each other, originating from a moon-shaped photography pose, tells us about the close friendship that Murshidul and Shejuti shares. He forms strong connections, intrigued by Shejuti's content. Their deep conversations span psychoanalysis, life lessons, and people's behaviors- and these deep conversations somehow creates a work/life balance while at the same time gives Shejuti the chance to observe how true of a person Murshidul is. Their recent shared amalgamation of storytelling via poetry and music in their university only proved that they are bonded creatively as much as they are bonded together mentally. Their shared laughter on the most random things will always be a memory to be cherished by her. Murshidul's ambition impresses Shejuti, and his thoughtful book gifts endear him to her. ‘He is different in a way that is unexplainable in the language of today’s world”- Shejuti concludes.
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| Shejuti and Murshidul |
Jawad, the unlikely comradeship: Initially taken aback by Murshidul's casual attire and early bedtime during university's residential semester, Jawad's scepticism evolved into an unexpected friendship as Murshidul became his second companion, replacing busy friends. Despite differing interests – with Jawad favouring video games and Murshidul leaning towards poetry – an implicit trust enabled them to share their personal lives openly. Murshidul’s brainchild would open up diverse viewpoints of viewing life. Their hour-long conversations still surprise Jawad, he says that Murshidul has a ‘boundless capacity for discussion’. Jawad could practically set his watch by the endless stream of the life stories he knew would come from him, but hey, that's just evidence of their uncanny mutual understanding! Murshidul's boldness was highlighted through daring, fun challenges thrown by Jawad. While their preferences diverged, their friendship remained rooted in a sense of understanding that transcended such disparities and defied preconceptions.
Adiba, alliance of insights:
‘He’s more human than most people’ – Adiba’s testament.
Acquainted with Murshidul for 3 years during the pandemic, joined as an editor for the book "Fueling Hope." Their connection sprouted, eventually leading to a collaborative role as colleagues on a project that radiated both of their love for Spreading good vibes through community magic. Adiba noted their profound discussions, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Murshidul's penchant for tossing in random quotes and analogies into conversations along with mind-bending arcs added a unique dimension. She concluded by noting out how she got totally caught onto Murshidul's emoji game – he's like the ‘virtual gardener’, planting sunflowers and leaves at the end of his messages to sprinkle some of that real-life sunshine into the digital world.
Nadiya, benevolent bonds: Knowing each other for about 1.5 years through a charity program, Nadiya and Murshidul discovered shared interests and perspectives on life. Murshidul's unique ability to connect with people drew Nadiya's attention, leading to a friendship built on mutual care. Thoughtful gestures, like Murshidul's small gifts and letters, are something that endears him most to her. On that note, Nadiya recalls Murshidul’s seriously impressive memory game – he'll pick up on things that they might have talked about ages ago, even if she’s totally forgotten about them herself. Murshidul likes to surprise people with unexpected treats if he remembers them talking about them liking something in passing, “That’s just how he cares,” Nadiya says on an ending note.
Murshidul in one word: Narrowing down Murshidul to a single word? Quite the challenge! Through these amazing souls’ lens, Murshidul emerges as an intelligent, multidisciplinary, and dedicated Mr. Bhuiyan, exuding optimism, occasional endearing annoyance, steadfastness, and a passionate, kind humanity.
Whispers of hearts: I asked the lovely interviewees to deliver some anonymous messages for Murshidul, which will keep him going. One plea, "Control your emotions, save your energy from needless hurt.", and a close friend's three sacred words, "I love you," encapsulate the depth of their bond. Another earnestly implores him to “remain unchanged”, to remain his goofy, thriving self, an innocence that brightens lives. Gratitude blossoms in a message that acknowledges, "You unearthed my hidden uniqueness." Yet, a common aspirating thread weaves through each sentiment—may dreams be realized, and dedication rewarded in Murshidul's journey, where he believes, “Our stories maybe different, but our destination is the same.”
In a world where minutes dictate pace, Murshidul’s saga stands as the cosmic conductor, orchestrating stories of genuine resonance—the stories of people, the heartbeat of lives within. He remains the storyteller, turning human narratives into a realm of authenticity, one genuine connection at a time.
But here's the twist: this isn't just a job; it's his personal odyssey. He's like on this quest to stitch connections, nurture them, and compose narratives that strike chords. Gathering life's tales, he scatters them with a fervor transcending timekeeping; it's a rhythm of connections. Beyond office walls, Murshidul's craft isn't a mere accessory; it's a living artistry that builds and scatters stories from humanity's intricate fabric. Even when work hours fade, he cradles passion close, where stories aren't just words; they're the essence of existence, waiting to be shared. To recapitulate, Murshidul’s role as a human being extends beyond collecting tales; it's a curation of connections—an unspoken pledge to humanity.
