Dr Neelima Yeasmin has always been academically brilliant. So, when she topped the 39th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Examination, it was not much of a surprise for her friends and family. "When I was young, I wanted to be a scientist but my father wanted me to be a doctor," says Neelima. "Thankfully, I fell in love with medical science when I started pursuing it. My father is no more with us and today, I feel happy to have fulfilled his wish." Many of Neelima's relatives are settled outside of Bangladesh.

Given her qualifications and potentiality, it may seem like a smart choice for Neelima to do the same, but moving abroad is not something that she dreams of. An avid Bangladeshi at heart, Neelima wants to give her best to serving her country and believes that being a BCS candidate has taken her one step ahead in that direction. As the mother of a toddler, Neelima had to find a way to balance both her familial and educational responsibilities. "I had to make certain sacrifices, but my husband, who is a doctor himself, always stood by me and other members of my family were really supportive too. I was determined to never take a break from my studies and I still have a long way to go," she asserts. She also offered some sound advice to future BCS candidates. "Be passionate about what you learn," says Neelima. "Many people tend to neglect the academic subject they chose or take a break from it when they are preparing for the BCS Examination, but that should not be the case." Currently a resident doctor at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Neelima plans to go abroad for further studies and be associated with international research projects on medical science, especially gynaecology, her area of expertise.