When the name Shahi Al Sadat comes up today, it echoes with awards, scholarships, and global recognition. But for Sadat, the story of his rise is incomplete without mentioning three pillars of strength who shaped his journey — his father, Md. Shafikul Islam, former Deputy Commissioner Shameem Hasan, and an unexpected voice that became his lifeline — Maisha Maliha.
'My father believed in me when no one else did. Shameem Sir kept me on the right track during the storms. But Maisha? She saved me.'
38 Minutes That Changed My Life
'Can you tell us about the moment that turned your life around?'
Sadat: It was 2024. I was in deep emotional pain, haunted by rejection, fear, and even suicidal thoughts. That’s when Maliha entered my life. I had accepted her Facebook request thinking she was a senior. We first connected while working on paperwork for Startup IO.
Our first phone call lasted 38 minutes. I was silent, broken. She said just one thing: “You can’t give up now.” On another day, I was rejected by three institutions, and I truly thought it was the end. During a 17-minute call, I didn’t speak a word. She just stayed on the line. That call saved me from making a fatal decision.
From Despair to Global Recognition
Back then, I had nothing—no scholarships, no media recognition, no awards. Today, I have:
A full scholarship from Rice University (USA) in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies
The PBIF Int’l Digital Business Award 2025 for my AI business idea “What”
The National Tech Award
A nomination for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2024
Over 50 global recognitions through media and social impact
And the launch of Teen-X App and Teen-X Bangladesh, both inspired by and launched on Maliha’s birthday
Even Google now shows her photo next to my name — and I’m proud of that.
Love, Distance, and the Cost of Change
Now, there’s emotional distance between us. She once asked me to stop all activism, fearing for my life. But I chose this path. And she stepped back. Not out of anger, but out of care. I know that love remains. Our bond isn’t broken; it’s just silent.
Today, there are many dedicated people working in our organization. I respect and value each of them deeply. However, even if I combine everyone’s contribution, none of it equals what she did for me when I was at my lowest. I have deep respect for Maliha — not just as a person, but as the reason I survived.
'This isn’t just a tribute. This is my truth,” Sadat says, as he looks forward to building a safer, stronger world for teenagers.'
