AHM Modasser Billah is a Senior Backend Developer at Doist, the company behind popular productivity and work apps such as Todoist and Twist. Before joining Doist, he worked at BriteCore, a US-based insure-tech company. Before that, he worked as a Consultant Software Developer for the National Enterprise Architecture under LICT. Trained at BUET in computer science, Modasser takes a deep interest in the ideas of remote work, growth mindset, and continuous learning. 

I recently had an opportunity to speak with Modasser about his journey, all things programming, the rise of remote work, craftsmanship as an approach to doing your work, company culture, personal growth, books and learning, and more. 

What follows is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation. I had an excellent time speaking with Modasser. I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I enjoyed doing it. 

I. PERSONAL HISTORY  

Ruhul Kader: Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Can you please tell us about yourself and your background? Where did you grow up and from there your journey to what you're doing today?

AHM Modasser Billah: Thank you for havig me. I grew up in Cumilla, where I live now. My childhood was here from class one. My father was in PDB. He used to get transferred to different parts of the country. But we kind of settled down in Cumilla once he was transferred to Cumilla. When my elder siblings grew up, my father decided not to move the family with him after that. So I didn't have to move much.  

I was born in Tongi and briefly lived in Brahmanbaria when I was a kid. And then it's been Cumilla all along. 

I started my school at Cumilla Zilla School. After that, I went to Notre Dame College and then to BUET, where I studied CSE. After graduation, I worked for a couple of organizations and then eventually started working remotely. When I started working remotely, I came back to Cumilla and have been living here since then.

Ruhul Kader: Do you enjoy living in Cumilla? You used to live in Dhaka and then moved back to Cumilla. 

AHM Modasser Billah: I love it here. The funny thing is that I lived in Dhaka for a long time since college. But I'd come to Cumilla every Thursday and then would go back again on Saturday. This was the routine for my entire BUET life and also when I was working in Dhaka.

So I like it here in Cumilla. While I'd like to stay here, now with kids, their education, and all that, we’re having to reconsider going back to Dhaka. I don't like the idea of it. Cumilla is a nice place. I mean you get everything you get in Dhaka, minus the bad things.