The O-level and A-level students, who received The Daily Star award in a ceremony in the capital yesterday, expressed utmost elation at their achievements.

With several outstanding achievements to be proud of like scoring the highest marks in the world, the students dedicated their success to their teachers, parents and mentors.

The awardees look forward to building

their futures as doctors, engineers, researchers, writers, or successful participants in the corporate world and hope to use their talent in serving their country better.

SYED TASWAR AAJMAIN

Taswar from Sunbeams School went a step ahead of his peers by securing a place among the world's top scorers. He proved to be exceptional in math by getting the world's highest mark in 'mathematics B' in his O-level exams.

"The trick is to stay focused on the goal," saidTaswar.

In addition, Taswar has a variety of interests, ranging from reading books to studying biology.

SHAHBAZAMIN BHUIYAN Shahbaz took his O-level exams from Saint Francis Xavier's Green Herald School and has the highest marks in geography among all his peers nationwide.

"I owe it to my teacher, who made it sure that I never had to memorise. That teaching method worked well with me," he commented.

However, Shahbaz intends to study economics in future as he believes his professional scopes will be limited if he specialises in geography.

NAFISA ANAM ISLAM Nafisa also took her O-level exam from Saint Francis Xavier's Green Herald School and held the highest marks in Bible studies.

"I was interested in learning about a different religion. Being a Muslim, it added a perspective to how 1 view people different from me," she said.

Nafisa hopes to excel in business someday and wants to be someone who is tolerant and sensitive about her fellow human beings. MUNTAHA CHOWDHURY Muntaha, who came from Sunshine Grammar School in Chittagong to receive her award, obtained the highest marks in Bangla in O-level exam in the country.

She said she was previously very weak in Bangla and drew criticism from her peers for having poor knowledge in her mother language. So, she took it as a challenge to improve and did it.

MUHIT BIN MUNIM

Muhit proved to be among the league of the best physics students in the country by scoring the highest marks in his A-level exams.

A student of Sir John Wilson School, Muhit achieved 174 marks out of 180.

■ I have done well because I was thoroughly groomed by my teachers and took several challenging practice exams," said Muhit. DEBAPRIYA BISWAS The O-level graduate from Sunnydale School scored the world's highest marks in physics and said confidently it was nothing unexpected since science was his natural talent.

He also got the best marks in chemistry in all over the Country.

"In future I want to be a brilliant physicist like Sheldon Cooper from the television series 'The Big Bang Theory',1' said Debapriya.

BORNALI ROY

Bornali took her O-level exams from Willes Little Flower School and is the top scorer in Bangla internationally.

She said this was because she read a lot of books.

"I consider every citizen to be a gem and want to be a doctor. I might go practising in the rural areas if given the chance," she said.

TASFIA MOMTAJ CHOWDHURY Tasfia is among the best in the country in chemistry as proved by her score in her A-level exams.

She completed high school from Chittagong Grammar School and is currently pursuing medical studies in a private medical college in the port city.

"I did well in chemistry because of the way my teacher made it fun and easy. He used to explain the daily life applications of chemistry, making it easier for me to learn," saidTasfia. AHMAD IBRAHIM Ahmad from Maple Leaf International School made the outstanding achievement of scoring the world's highest marks in his biology, human biology and English literature in O-level exams.

"I am mostly self-taught because I rarely ever did classes. However, that is the method that helped me make the best use of my time to study the way I wanted to," said Ahmad.

After his brilliant gains in O-level, Ahmad performed another feat by sitting for seven A-level subjects half a term ahead of finishing Class 12. He also took 12 subjects in his O-levels.

"I took so many subjects because I have many interests and did not know what to choose," he added.

Ahmad wants to be a writer when he grows up. JAM IL ZAKARIA BHUIYAN Jamil scored full marks in accounting in A-level exam, making him the top scorer of the world.

He studied in Changes School in Narayanganj.

” I took it as a challenge to perform well and spread the name of my school, because the general perception is that only students from the cities do well. I wanted to prove that schools in Narayanganj too have a lot of capability," said Jamil. INTEKHAB HOSSAIN Intekhab not only achieved the highest marks in his pure mathematics in A-level exam but also was declared one of the highest achievers in the country, having taken seven subjects out of which he got six A stars.

"Studying at the last minute really works for me as it helps me remember things," said the student from Sunbeams School.

Intekhab took seven subjects to boost his college applications and will be attending William's College soon to do a double major in economics and neuroscience.

"I can do a double major because since I took so many A-level subjects, I can finish one major in approximately half the time," said Intekhab.

ZARAT JAHIN QUEEN

Zarat from Mastermind School obtained the world's highest marks in her biology A-level exams.

She looks forward to studying medicine at University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

"Since my father is a doctor, I could have seen the poor state of many hospitals in my country. I have also experienced deaths of my relatives due to inadequate treatment. This made me want to be a doctor," said Zarat.