From Pages to Progress: How Mojahidul Islam Sparked a Digital Literacy Revolution in Bengali

In the far northern region of Tetulia, Panchagarh, young men and women from remote border villages are becoming self-reliant through computer training at the Ahnaf Computer Training Institute. Over the past several years, around 5,000 unemployed students have completed training here. Many of these educated youths have since found jobs as teachers at various educational institutions across the upazila.

M.A. Baset, a young man from Tetulia, once traveled all the way to Dhaka. There, he came across a Bangla newspaper article by Md. Mojahidul Islam, which described how technology education could transform the lives of unemployed youth. In Dhaka’s New Market area, at Neelkhet, he spotted one of Mojahidul Islam’s computer books. Inspired, he bought the book along with a few other computer magazines published from the capital.

In 2004, in the border-hugging upazila of Tetulia, M.A. Baset started a computer training center after reading some of those Bangla-written books—armed with nothing but a single desktop computer. Today, the Ahnaf Computer Training Institute is affiliated with the Bangladesh Technical Education Board and runs a Basic Trade Short Course (360 hours) with around 10 laptops and 10 desktops. Over the past 20 years, this institute has illuminated rural villages with the light of digital literacy, empowering the children of poor farmers with practical IT skills.

The institute’s director, M.A. Baset, received his own six-month computer training course in 2005–2006 through the Youth Development Department of Panchagarh. At that time, the then-Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Farhad Hossain, allocated a room in the BRDB Hall at the Upazila Parishad for training. With help from Babul Hossain, Director of BCE Panchagarh, they launched the first batch of training using only two computers. The initial class had just 20 students, taught by Babul Hossain and BCE student Md. Delowar Hossain.

Gradually, interest grew. In 2005, local watch trader Emdadul Haque and Rafiqul Islam Ansari, Director of the Ulipur-based Ansari Commercial Institute, helped expand the program. The center then operated under the name “Genuine Computer Complex Training and Composing Center,” as a branch of the Ansari Institute. On December 31, 2006, after receiving official permission from the Bangladesh Technical Education Board to run short courses, the center was renamed “Ahnaf Computer Training Institute.”

To date, around 5,000 unemployed students have received training from the institute. Many have gone on to secure teaching jobs at schools and colleges across Tetulia.

Md. Rahmat Ali, a Computer Teacher at Boalmari Girls’ High School, shared:“Thanks to Md. Mojahidul Islam’s computer books, I first became interested in learning more. After reading them, I decided to get hands-on training. That training not only helped me secure a job but also empowered hundreds of other educated but unemployed young people—both men and women—to work at government and private organizations.”

Retired librarian of Tetulia Government College, Md. Shahadat Hossain Ranzu, added:“If the government could launch a full-fledged vocational training program here, it would encourage even more poor students from farming families to join and improve their future.”

M.A. Baset, Director of Ahnaf CTI, said:“Keeping the institute running hasn’t been easy—we’ve faced many ups and downs. But for 20 years, we’ve trained the educated youth of these remote border villages, helping them become self-reliant. If the government could integrate an ICT project for underprivileged students under our institute, we could create skilled citizens even in the farthest corners of the country.”

This is just one story from rural Bangladesh—one spark from a wave of transformation. A story that shows how Md. Mojahidul Islam’s computer books helped change the lives of youth, and how rural Bangladesh began gaining momentum through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

In a time when computers were rare and the internet a distant luxury—when Facebook hadn’t yet entered the chat and YouTube was but a dream—Mojahidul Islam emerged as a trailblazer. Known affectionately to many as “Dheow,” he is one of the earliest writers who dared to make the intimidating world of Information Technology accessible to Bengali speakers. His mission? To empower youth with digital literacy and open doors to employment opportunities.

Mojahidul Islam’s contribution to ICT education is nothing short of poetic. Through his lucid and reader-friendly writing in Bengali, he brought the complex world of computers into the living rooms of Bangladesh’s remotest corners. His work has reached hills, chars, and villages, becoming a digital lighthouse guiding the curious and the jobless alike.

His journey began in 2000 with IT journalism at The New Nation and later included roles in Ajker Kagoj, Computer Barta, E-Biz, and since 2006, as the ICT Editor at The Daily Ittefaq. In 2003, when IT education was still finding its feet in Bangladesh, Mojahidul published the very first books in Bengali that outlined the essential digital skills needed by unemployed youth:

Basic Computer Operations: Hardware/software knowledge, file management, and operating systems.Office Applications: Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.Internet & Email: Browsing, research, and email usage.Graphics & Multimedia: Basics of Photoshop, Illustrator, and multimedia tools.Online Safety: Cyber awareness and personal data protection.

At the time, IT learners had to rely on expensive, complex English manuals. The lack of internet access and qualified trainers made things worse. Mojahidul’s Bengali-language ICT books filled that critical gap and became the de facto learning tools in countless institutions.

He emphasized the need for short-term training programs in web and graphic design, SEO, hardware troubleshooting, and e-commerce management to empower the youth. With 70% of Bangladesh’s population being young, their involvement in the tech industry, he argued, was essential for national development.

His books have gained wide recognition—not just in Bangladesh, but also in West Bengal, India. Some of his notable works include Practical Networking Handbook, Swapner Career (Dream Career), 7 Dine Web Design: Dreamweaver MX, Web Database Application: MySQL-PHP, Mastering E-Commerce, Windows XP Networking, Mobile Phone Khutinati, Network Dictionary, Digital Photography, Freelance Outsourcing of Possibilities, and Computer Hardware.

Thanks to these books, hundreds of thousands opened their first email account, printed their first document, and got their first freelance gig. His books extended ICT literacy to schools, colleges, polytechnics, and technical institutions across the country. Teachers now create interactive content, students enhance their employability, and administrative work in schools has become more efficient—all thanks to computer use made accessible by his writings.

Many government entities—ministries, departments, and local administrations—have procured his books in bulk for training, research, and institutional use. In 2007, the Department of Youth Development adopted his books for computer troubleshooting training. In 2017, the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS) distributed his books to boost ICT teaching capacity in schools.

One-third of Bangladesh’s total population is youth. Of the country’s 180 million people, around 60 million are young. This youth force is the main driving power of the nation. It is estimated that over 2.3 million students have gained basic ICT skills thanks to Mojahidul’s books over the last 15 years. Around 2 million learned how to open and manage email accounts and create essential office documents and spreadsheets. About 500,000 now access government e-services. At least 18,000 educated youths have started freelancing careers, earning foreign currency.

His work inspired many social organizations to launch community-based computer training programs—Amader Gram in Bagerhat promotes telemedicine and online services; Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha set up floating schools in flood-prone areas; the Floating ICT Centers launched by BCC and a Dutch partner deliver training to remote islands using solar-powered containers; and DSK in Netrokona runs courses for indigenous youth.

Mojahidul Islam’s life’s work shows that technology is not just a tool—it’s a transformative force. For the youth, computer training isn’t just about skill—it’s about unlocking a future. And Mojahidul Islam has handed them the key.

Over the years, he has built an impressive professional network. He is a lifetime member of the Bangladesh Computer Society (BCS) and is actively affiliated with several prestigious associations, including the Internet Society (ISOC), Online Editors Alliance, Dhaka Union of Journalists, and the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists.

Mojahidul has received international-standard training to sharpen his journalistic skills, including a fellowship in finance and business journalism from the Thomson Reuters Foundation in London. He also received training in Internet Resource Management and Artificial Intelligence, along with certifications in data-driven journalism and digital marketing. His writing explores e-Government, the digital divide, and Bangladesh’s evolving ICT infrastructure.

His journey in tech journalism has earned him numerous accolades. In 2022, he won the Prominent ICT Journalist Award and the prestigious Digital Bangladesh Award. That same year, he was named IT Journalist of the Year by the Local Broadband Association. Other honors include the Best Author Award 2021, ICT Journalist of the Year 2020, and the e-Commerce Movers Award 2020. Previously, he was recognized by Bangladesh Master Brands (2019), received the iTel Mobile Award (2017), and the International Quality Crown Award (2017). Earlier distinctions include the Best Tech Reporter Award (2011). As Acting Editor of e-Biz, he received the prestigious Century International Gold Quality ERA Award (2010) for outstanding commitment to quality, excellence, leadership, and customer satisfaction. That same year, he also received the Best Media Coordinator Award from the British Council. In 2009, he was honored with the title Pioneer of IT Journalism in Bangladesh.

Beyond awards, Mojahidul has judged the CTIA Emerging Technology Awards (USA) and other national ICT competitions. He has inspired audiences at forums like the NASA Space Apps Challenge and the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum.

In 2007, he became General Secretary of the Bangladesh ICT Journalists Forum (BIJF), the nation’s only ICT journalists’ body. In 2019, he was elected President, leading initiatives to empower the tech media community.