Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend: A tribute to Star Campus

Ejaj Ahmad and BYLC, a close friend of Star Campus. Photo: Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center

Not only is it an honour that the last cover story of Star Campus is on Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC), but also it is deeply touching at a personal level. As an organisation, we have grown up alongside Campus, looking to it for inspiration. Campus, its staff and readers, have been loyal supporters of BYLC, helping us spread our message and reach out to the youth of Bangladesh. We shared the same core values, working to unite youth from diverse backgrounds and instill in them a sense of service and active citizenship.

Star Campus was unique in its ability to draw young minds from across the country; its readers and contributors are not just from Dhaka and the capital's universities, but from across different divisions. Campus promoted English writing, debate and discussion among university students and inspired our youth to write about issues they care about. It gave them a space to voice their concerns, their dreams, and their ideas for their own future and the future of our country. Some of BYLC's own graduates were fortunate enough to contribute  as writers to Campus, and it always gave us a great sense of pride to see their names in print.

The people behind the magazine represented the new generation of Bangladeshis. They showed us that there are young, bright people in Bangladesh, who value public service and are committed to working towards a more inclusive and just society. I would like to thank several of the Campus staff members, to whom we at BYLC owe a great debt of gratitude. And while space does not allow me to thank each and every person individually, there are a few who cannot go unnamed. To Shahnoor Wahid, the former editor, I am beholden to him for his support; not only did he attend our programmers, but he was one BYLC's earliest proponents, always offering encouragement and advice. We have been fortunate that Shahnoor bhai's successor, Elita Karim, has also been a kind friend to BYLC. To her, I would like to express my deepest thanks for her friendship; she has given us not only space in her pages but her time as well, running workshops on writing for our participants and speaking at our programmes. And of course, I am deeply grateful to the many talented journalists who have worked at Campus over the last few years, including Mahdin Mahboob, Sara Z H, Tabassum Mokhduma, Ridwan Karim and Sumaiya Ahhan Bushra.

And so, while goodbyes are sad, they also provide us an opportunity to sleep back and reflect on the journey we have shared together. We at BYLC have been privileged to have been a part of the Campus journey. While the form of the new Campus column will be new, the spirit will remain the same. We eagerly look forward to it, and all of us at BYLC wish them all the best on their new initiative.

(The author is the founder of BYLC and the recipient of the Rising Star award from Harvard Kennedy School.)