Niloy Rahman wasn't at all surprised when he heard that he had topped the merit list of successful students in the Science group of this year’s SSC examinations of the Rajshahi Board.

A cadet of the Pabna Cadet College, Niloy scored 920 marks out of a possible 1000 with letters in Bangla, English. General Mathematics, Islamiat, General Science and Higher Mathematics.

The only child of a private firm executive Ataur Rahman and radio engineer Farida Rahman Niloy. unlike those who studied 12 to 13 hours tn preparations for the exams, spent much less time with his books.

His favourite pastimes — listening to music and studying non-academic books — were never neglected.

A regular routine of three to five hours of study a day, with some help of his tutors when he came home on vacations sufficed for Niloy to emerge as the best student among the lot.

When asked about his alm In life. Niloy Rahman said he wants to be a computer engineer.