Hey there! Welcome to the roller-coaster story of my life. Buckle up, because it’s going to be a fun ride!

From Island Dreams to City Scenes

I was born in 1991 on the quaint little island of Hatiya in Bangladesh. My early days were surrounded by the sea and tiny isles where not even a lonely soul could live. When I was just a kid, my family traded island life for the bustling city of Dhaka. Picture this: 22.4 million people packed into one city! That’s 38,000 people per square kilometer, or if you’re into imperial units, 99,000 per square mile. Talk about personal space!

Back to Basics and Forward to the Future

At ages 9 and 10, we returned to Hatiya for two magical, technology-free years. No electricity, no phones, and no internet. Just pure, unadulterated nature. I learned to live without modern conveniences, which came in handy later when the Wi-Fi was down.

School Days and Beyond

I was a top student early on, but the education system’s obsession with memorization soon wore me out. My grades dropped as my curiosity soared. Instead of hitting the books, I dived into different adventures.

Crashing Courses and Webbing the World

After high school, I aimed for a computer science degree but needed a taste of the tech world first. A crash course in web development introduced me to PHP and other web technologies. It was a short course, but boy, did it whet my appetite!

From Poems to Pages

Always a bookworm, I fancied myself a writer. I penned poems (my friends, especially the ladies, were my biggest fans). Before starting university, I snagged a gig as a tech news writer for a popular computer magazine. I even wrote a monthly science fiction column that became a hit, leading to cover stories and an editorial associate title. But alas, university beckoned, and I bid farewell to the magazine.

Startup Hustles and Academic Juggles

While studying, I launched a web development training center and created a web app for mock university admission tests. It was a hit, helping fund my education. I also excelled in programming contests, ranking third among over 100 participants.

Robotics and Java Jives

I ventured into robotics, developing an Android app for controlling telepresence robots. It was a tough nut to crack, but I emerged wiser. I also worked part-time, coding Java applications for text message systems, which led to my first full-time job as a Java/Android developer in my third university year. Helping classmates with programming was a given, and my free 1-hour lectures became quite popular.

Love and Career Blossoms

In university, I met my best friend and future girlfriend, Sharika. After graduation, I joined one of Bangladesh’s top companies, excelling in Android and iOS development. Despite a promising career, I yearned for more – a master’s degree in AI. I found my perfect match in Halmstad, Sweden, a serene city with beautiful landscapes and less corruption. Moving from Dhaka’s chaos to Halmstad’s calm was a culture shock, but I adapted quickly.

Swedish Adventures and Startup Ventures

In Halmstad, I became the go-to Android guy, leading to freelance opportunities. I built a food-sharing app for a startup and even started my own company with help from new friends. Summer vacations meant remote work, and I soon joined Appland as a full-time Android developer.

From Dhaka to Gothenburg

Returning to Bangladesh after three years, I married my girlfriend and headed back to Sweden. After three dynamic years at Appland, I joined Sleep Cycle as a Senior Android Developer, then moved to Volvo Trucks. At Volvo, I wore many hats, including Scrum Master and Acting Product Owner.

Nerdy Projects and 3D Printing Dreams

Even with a busy career, I find time for pet projects. I’m a 3D printing enthusiast with a BambuLab A1 3D printer. My latest venture? Designing a hand grab handle for Tesla Model 3. If it works out, I might sell it commercially – though updating this page might take a backseat!

Thanks for sticking with me through this journey. I’m grateful for your time and interest. Stay curious and keep smiling!

• Name

  Tariqul Islam

• Age

  33 Years

• Website

  tariqul-i.github.io

• Hometown

  Gothenburg, Sweden