Hello, I'm Kazi Mahir Tajwar!
Kazi Mahir Tajwar was born under the vibrant skies of Chittagong on June 9, 1993, at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh. At the time, his father was stationed in the remote hill town of Lama, Bandarban, deep in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. He was a dedicated Forest Officer with the Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Government, and he is now enjoying his well-deserved retirement.
Being the first child of his parents, Kazi Mahir Tajwar’s arrival marked the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in their lives. His early childhood was steeped in the serenity of nature. Surrounded by towering forests and distant mountain ranges, he developed a deep appreciation for the natural world that would shape his future aspirations. Due to his father’s government job, the family moved around quite a bit. In 1996, while living in Sreemangal, Sylhet—a region famous for its lush tea gardens and tranquil landscapes—his younger sister was born. Shortly after, the family spent some time at his grandparents’ home in Monohardi, Narsingdi, where he attended a kindergarten called “Barnamala School”.
In 1999, the family moved to Dhaka and settled in the vibrant neighborhood of Rampura. This would become his home for the next 25 years. That same year, Kazi Mahir Tajwar began his formal education at “Saint Practice Grammar School” in Malibagh, enrolling in Class 01. The sprawling metropolis of Dhaka was both thrilling and a bit overwhelming for a young child, but it offered endless opportunities for growth and learning. After a year gap dedicated to admission preparation, Kazi Mahir Tajwar was admitted to “Ideal School and College—Banasree Branch” in Class 02 in 2002. It was here that he truly began to understand the value of education and where his love for science started to blossom. In 2003, the family welcomed his younger brother, further enriching the family dynamics and strengthening his role as the protective older sibling.
Throughout his school years, Kazi Mahir Tajwar was naturally drawn to the mechanics of the world around him. This curiosity led him to choose the science track for his SSC (Secondary School Certificate) in 2009. Determined to excel academically, Kazi Mahir Tajwar passed with a GPA of 5.0 in 2011. This achievement opened doors to several esteemed institutions and validated all the hard work he had put in. But life wasn’t just about academics. In 2010, at the age of 17, Kazi Mahir Tajwar began volunteering with the Shadhin Bangladesh Foundation. Engaging in community development initiatives ignited a lifelong commitment to giving back—a value his parents had instilled in him through their dedication to public service. In 2011, Kazi Mahir Tajwar joined the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC)—Air Wing through his college, Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College, where he was pursuing his HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate) in the science group. Being part of the BNCC taught him discipline and leadership and provided opportunities to participate in national science fairs. A highlight was in 2012, when his team secured second place at a prestigious science fair at Holycross College. It was an exhilarating experience that showcased their passion for innovation and problem-solving.
After completing his HSC in 2013, Kazi Mahir Tajwar faced a pivotal decision about his future. Initially, he enrolled at East-West University to study Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering in 2014. However, it didn’t take long for him to realize that his true calling lay elsewhere. Later in 2015, he was accepted into Jahangirnagar University in the Department of Geography and Environment under the Social Science Faculty. His time at Jahangirnagar University was a mix of challenges and opportunities. A session jam delayed his graduation by a year, so Kazi Mahir Tajwar completed his honours degree in 2019 instead of 2018. He used this extra time wisely, immersing himself in environmental research, development activism, and advocacy. The experience solidified his passion for environmental sustainability and allowed him to blend his love for science with meaningful action.
In 2020, he began a master’s program in the same department. However, the global coronavirus pandemic disrupted his educational journey as the university remained closed for two years. Rather than letting this setback deter him, Kazi Mahir Tajwar took it as an opportunity to reflect on his goals and refine his expertise. In 2022, he decided to pivot slightly and enrolled in the Master of Governance and Development Studies at the Government and Politics Department, still within the Social Science Faculty of Jahangirnagar University. Balancing his studies with a budding career in the development sector, he finally completed his master’s course in 2023. After spending over 25 years in Rampura, Dhaka, his family moved to Dakkhinkhan, Dhaka, in 2024.
In 2010, when he started volunteering with the Shadhin Bangladesh Foundation, it ignited his lifelong commitment to giving back to the community. This early experience in community development fueled his desire to work for social change. However, his true professional journey began during his university years when he joined ActionAid Bangladesh as a volunteer with their Activista Network in 2018. This experience helped him transition into the professional world, even while pursuing his studies at Jahangirnagar University in Geography and Environment. Through this role, he organized several climate action activities, youth leadership movements, and campaigns on SDG accountability. Additionally, he participated in various training programs from different organizations like Active Citizens – British Council, IOM – UN Migration, UNMGCY, and BRAC.
Besides, he balanced his academic life with several contractual roles in different organizations. He worked as a Research Enumerator for CARE Bangladesh’s Shouhardo Project and contributed to Oxfam Bangladesh’s PROTIC Project and IUCN’s Dolphin Fair. These roles, combined with paid volunteer positions, provided him with a rich mix of fieldwork and research experiences, which shaped his practical understanding of development work. He also had the opportunity to work with the World Bank and World Food Programme (WFP) in volunteer roles that refined his project management and data analysis skills.
His first full-time job came in 2020 when he was appointed as an Associate Trainer with Global Platform Bangladesh under ActionAid. Later, he joined the Prottasha Project by IOM – UN Migration and Enroute International as a District Coordinator or Supervisor in the Gazipur district. After that, he spent 1.5 years as an Environment Officer at the Sustainable Enterprise Project (SEP) by the Pidim Foundation – PKSF, funded by the World Bank, in Narsingdi and Gazipur District.
Then, as a Research Supervisor for the Center for People & Environment (CPE), he supervised field assessments for the Climate Smart Village Approach, gathering crucial insights from households in vulnerable southernmost districts. Later, he served as a Senior Officer – Integrated Water Resource Management and Private Sector Integration for the GO4IMPact Programme – ESDO at Naogaon District under the consortium of WaterAid and Swisscontact, funded by SDC. Currently, he is a Programme Assistant of IUCN at Cox’s Bazar and a Regional Coordinator (Asia) for the HEY Campaign under The Ashley Lashley Foundation, where he leads climate action and health advocacy initiatives across the region.
Throughout his life, Kazi Mahir Tajwar has learned that change is the only constant, and each new environment offers its own set of lessons. From the serene landscapes of Bandarban and Sylhet to the bustling streets of Dhaka, every place has shaped who he is today. He carries with him the values instilled by his parents, the knowledge gained from his education, and the experiences that have taught him resilience and adaptability. As he looks to the future, he is committed to making a positive impact on his community and the world at large.