By
Quazi M. Ahmed
Founder & President, BOND
Retirement is often seen as the closing chapter of a career. But for many Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), retirement marks the beginning of something even more powerful a time to reflect, reconnect, and give back. These seasoned professionals, academics, doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs have spent decades building lives and legacies abroad. What they now carry is not just experience but transformative potential.
At BOND (Bridging Organization with NRBs for Development), we see retired NRBs as a hidden asset in Bangladesh’s development journey. With time, experience, and the desire to contribute, they represent a powerful, yet largely untapped, force for national progress.
Experience That Matters
Retired NRBs have what younger professionals are still earning decades of practical wisdom. From managing organizations to building cross-cultural networks, they possess a deep understanding of systems, leadership, and global best practices. Many are respected mentors, community leaders, and problem-solvers in their adopted countries.
Imagine this knowledge being redirected to mentor Bangladeshi youth, advise start-ups, guide NGOs, or strengthen institutions back home. The potential for impact is enormous.
A New Chapter of Contribution
For retired NRBs, giving back to Bangladesh doesn’t require moving back permanently. With today’s digital tools, meaningful engagement is just a call or click away.
Here’s how retired NRBs can make a difference:
- Mentoring and Coaching: Guiding students, professionals, or entrepreneurs through structured programs or one-on-one support.
- Advisory Roles: Offering insights to social enterprises, educational institutions, or government initiatives.
- Capacity Building: Conducting virtual training on leadership, ethics, finance, healthcare, or other specialized fields.
- Philanthropy: Supporting community development projects, scholarships, or local innovation hubs.
These contributions don’t just benefit Bangladesh they provide purpose and fulfillment for the contributors themselves.
BOND: Creating Pathways for Purpose
BOND understands the unique strengths and availability of retired NRBs. That’s why we are actively designing programs that match their expertise with real needs on the ground.
Through BOND, retired NRBs can:
- Participate in virtual mentorship programs
- Join knowledge-sharing panels and webinars
- Offer part-time consultancy to growing organizations
- Support or co-create charitable initiatives
- Travel to Bangladesh for short-term project-based volunteering
Whether you want to teach, consult, donate, or simply connect with changemakers BOND is your bridge.
Stories That Inspire
Take, for example, a retired engineer from Canada who now mentors young innovators in Dhaka’s startup ecosystem. Or a former educator in the UK who hosts online classes for rural teachers in Bangladesh. Or a retired physician from the US who advises local health NGOs. These aren’t isolated cases they are signals of what’s possible when retired NRBs are engaged meaningfully.
Their contributions don’t just solve problems they inspire others to act.
Legacy That Lasts
One of the greatest desires of many retired NRBs is to leave behind a legacy not just material, but moral and intellectual. Through knowledge transfer, mentorship, and philanthropy, they can shape the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers in Bangladesh.
This is not just about charity it’s about co-creating a future where Bangladesh benefits from the global insights of its own people.
Final Thoughts
Retirement doesn’t mean stepping back it can mean stepping forward into a new kind of leadership. As Bangladesh builds its future, the wisdom of its global citizens is more important than ever.
If you’re a retired NRB with time, experience, and a heart for your homeland BOND is your platform to make a lasting difference.
Join BOND. Share your wisdom. Shape your legacy.