Prime Minister Meets Former Student in New York, Proud Teacher Mamunur Rashid

CSB News USA | New York

For a teacher, few experiences are more rewarding than witnessing the success of a former student. And when that student is serving thousands of miles away as a police officer in New York City, the sense of pride can be even greater.

During the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, teacher Mamunur Rashid witnessed such an emotional moment involving his former student, Rushmi Rose.

Rushmi was a student of Mamunur Rashid around 22 to 23 years ago. The daughter of the late Mahfuz Ara Miva, a prominent social worker from Katnarpara in Bogura and former executive director of PESD, Rushmi is now serving with the New York Police Department (NYPD). Her younger sister, Roshana, also lives in the United States and was another former student of Mamunur Rashid.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recently travelled to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. After arriving in New York on September 21, he began a series of high-level engagements from September 22, with additional UN-related programmes scheduled for September 23 and 24.

During the visit, Rushmi Rose was on duty outside the United Nations Headquarters. It was there that she met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

According to Mamunur Rashid, after learning that Rushmi was from Bogura and was serving as an NYPD officer, the Prime Minister spoke with her and asked about her well-being.

The meeting took place in a natural and cordial atmosphere. According to Rashid, Rushmi later told him that meeting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in person had been a long-held dream of hers. Having that opportunity while she was serving on duty in New York left her both happy and emotional.

For her former teacher, the moment represented much more than a meeting between a Prime Minister and a former student. It reflected the remarkable journey of two sisters who had once studied in Bogura and later built their professional lives in the United States.

In his account, Mamunur Rashid recalled that both sisters had been his students. One of them is now serving as a member of the law-enforcement community in New York, one of the world’s most prominent cities.

The encounter also carried a strong connection to her roots and her former teacher, adding another dimension to Rushmi’s story of professional achievement.

A New York Moment That Reflected the Prime Minister’s Low-Protocol Approach

Since Tarique Rahman became Prime Minister, his approach to reducing protocol during official movement has received attention. Reports citing government sources have said that his motorcade was reduced and that traffic signals were not being routinely stopped during his movements.

In March, the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary reportedly said that reducing VIP and VVIP protocol had also affected traffic movement in Dhaka.

Reports in February also said that the Prime Minister had decided to use his own vehicle and that his motorcade had been reduced from around 13–14 vehicles to four.

However, there is no independent information establishing that the meeting between Tarique Rahman and Rushmi Rose in New York was a direct result of those domestic protocol changes. Rather, the central significance of the photograph is the natural human interaction between Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and a Bangladeshi-origin police officer serving in New York amid a busy international schedule.

New York has been under extensive security arrangements during the 81st UN General Assembly, with large numbers of law-enforcement personnel deployed across the city.

Against that backdrop, the meeting between Rushmi Rose, a daughter of Bogura serving with the NYPD, and Bangladesh’s Prime Minister carries particular significance for many Bangladeshis living abroad.

On one side was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh attending a series of international diplomatic engagements. On the other was a Bangladeshi-origin woman professionally serving with the New York Police Department.

The two stories came together in a single moment outside the United Nations Headquarters.

Behind that photograph is another story—that of a teacher.

More than two decades after teaching Rushmi, Mamunur Rashid now sees his former student serving in one of the world’s most important cities and standing alongside the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

For a teacher, that may well be one of the greatest rewards of all.