Recorded in Norfolk, United Kingdom.
Dr Zahidur Rahman, a consultant in acute and emergency medicine, discusses various aspects of his life and career. Born in Bangladesh in 1977, he shares details about his family. Dr Rahman describes his journey in the medical field, from studying in Bangladesh to completing fellowships in Saudi Arabia and the UK. He became a consultant in emergency medicine in 2017.
Dr Rahman speaks about his family in Bangladesh, his siblings, and the challenges of being away from his aging mother. He also mentioned his active involvement with the alumni of Chittagong Medical College in the UK and shared anecdotes from his school days and recent gatherings with friends.
The interview touched upon Dr Rahman's marriage, emphasizing the initial challenges of convincing families due to societal norms.
Dr Rahman also talks about his social life in Norwich, mentioning the expansion of his social circle and the enjoyment of friendship and laughter in the community.
Makhduma Akhter, born in 1983, is a care support worker with flexible shifts. She balances her responsibilities with her husband Zahid in raising their three children. Akhter expressed pride in her eldest son's interest in learning Bengali and emphasized the importance of preserving Bengali culture and history within her family.
She discusses her close-knit family, including her brothers' support and the challenges of being separated from her parents in Bangladesh due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Akhter highlighted the strong family bonds that become evident when they reunite in Bangladesh, sharing a poignant memory of her brother helping her at the airport.
Reflecting on her school days in Khulna and her journey to marriage, Akhter described her initial hesitations in building a relationship with Zahid and the eventual support from their families. The couple moved to Saudi Arabia after marriage, and later settled in Norwich, where they initially struggled to connect with the Bengali community but eventually became part of a thriving network.
In closing, Akhter expressed a desire for a system to teach Bengali language to children in the UK and hoped for cooperation from the council and the National Centre for Writing in this regard.