The Beginning of Purpose (2010–2012)

In the quiet town of Cumilla, a young boy joined the Interact Club of Comilla Lalmai—not to lead, but to learn. Within a year, he founded the Interact Club of Gomoti and became its Charter Secretary. It wasn’t long before he was elected President, organizing social drives and awareness campaigns across his district.

🟢 Awarded “Best Interactor” by Interact Club of Comilla Lalmai (2010-11)

🟢 Awarded “Best Interactor” by Interact Club of Gomoti (2011-12)

🟢 Awarded “Best President” by Rotary International District 3280 (2012-13)

🟢 Awarded “Best Project Award for doing Global Friendship Project with District 3272 Pakistan” by Rotary International District 3280 (2012-13)

District-Level Leadership

In 2012–13, Roni was appointed District Secretary General of Rotary Interact District 3280—representing dozens of clubs across Bangladesh. Under his secretariat:

• He led high-level coordination between clubs and district administration

• Organized multi-club service projects, Interact assemblies, and reporting systems

• Introduced regular newsletter communication between Interact clubs

• Awarded “Best District Official” for exemplary coordination and communication

Rising to Interact History

In 2013, Roni became the First-ever District Interact Representative (DIR) of newly created Rotary District 3282. His contributions were visionary:

• Wrote and translated the Interact Bylaws into Bangla

• Led cross-border projects with Interactors of 42 District from Pakistan, India,  Nepal, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Bulgaria, Nigeria, etc

• Represented Bangladesh in regional Interact diplomacy forums

• Received the Legend of Global Friendship Award from RID 3272 (Pakistan)
  
  

His DIR term is still cited as a model in regional Interact training circles.

The Rotaract Renaissance (2014–Present)

"Not just a member — a movement builder"

Chartering Leadership – Building from Scratch

In 2014, Roni transitioned from Interact to Rotaract, founding the Rotaract Club of Cumilla Premier and becoming its first President. Under his leadership, the club initiated:

• Weekly community literacy drives

• Relief efforts for underprivileged families

• Youth engagement camps and Interact support programs

But his vision extended beyond hometown boundaries.

Capital Shift, Bigger Dreams:

In 2015, Roni decided to move in Dhaka as Rotaractor, Instead of just joining a club, he built one from the ground up — the Rotaract Club of Dhaka Orchid.

As Charter President, he led the club to:

• Launch 18+ humanitarian projects in its first year

• Secure the Rotary Presidential Citations Award

• Train over 100 youth in leadership and project design

• Establish Interact-mentorship programs with rural schools

Within a year, Orchid became one of the most active and decorated clubs in District 3281.

Rotaract Leadership — Beyond the Club Level

After founding and leading two Rotaract clubs — Cumilla Premier and Dhaka Orchid — Roni’s leadership naturally expanded beyond club boundaries. He served in multiple roles within Rotary District 3281, including as District Rotaract Chief Trainer, served Several Rotary District Committees including Interact, Community Service, etc. In these roles, he built systems that strengthened communication between clubs, initiated district-wide service projects, and mentored dozens of Rotaract leaders. His emphasis was not only on programs, but also on creating platforms that could outlast him. In 2017, he has participated RYLA as team leader.

RIAASA – Rotary Interact Alumni Association of South Asia

In 2015, Roni founded the Rotary Interact Alumni Association of South Asia (RIAASA) — the first cross-border Interact alumni platform in the region. Recognizing the lack of post-Interact engagement, he designed RIAASA to unify former Interactors from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and beyond under one mission: supporting the growth of the Interact movement across South Asia.

He became its Charter President and built strategic partnerships with Rotary districts, Interact clubs, and youth-led initiatives across borders. Today, RIAASA continues to work as a bridge between Interact, Rotaract, and Rotary — a vision born from Roni’s belief in continuity-driven service.

Rotary Positions & Governance Roles

Beyond Rotaract, Roni stepped into Rotary’s governance landscape as an emerging leader. He currently serves as:

• Rotary Council on Legislation (COL) Representative (2022–2025) — representing District 3281 in shaping Rotary’s international policy

• Rotary Peace Fellowship Endorser (2022–2026) — mentoring and endorsing candidates from Bangladesh and South Asia

• Member, Rotary Action Group for Peace

• Still holds the First Rank among Rotaractors globally in Rotary Learning Center
  
  

These roles reflect not only recognition of his service, but Rotary’s confidence in his vision for sustainable, youth-inclusive change.

Leadership Beyond Rotary 

SHADOW – Society for Humanity And Development Over the World

Founded in 2014 by Md Saddam Hossain Roni, SHADOW is a youth-led nonprofit organization that transforms empathy into coordinated action. What started as a small volunteer initiative has grown into one of Bangladesh’s most impactful youth platforms, empowering young changemakers to address urgent humanitarian needs through grassroots service and leadership. Under Roni’s vision, SHADOW has delivered flood relief to remote villages, organized winter clothing drives for displaced families, arranged mobile health and eye surgery camps, and supported underprivileged students with educational aid. Through national conferences like the Youth Leaders’ Conference (2015) and the International Youth Conference (2017), SHADOW has also become a hub for youth capacity building and intergenerational dialogue. The organization remains committed to the belief that sustainable change begins when youth are not just inspired, but equipped to lead.

COVID-19 Response – Leading Through Crisis

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck Bangladesh, Md Saddam Hossain Roni and his team at SHADOW stepped into action before many institutions could respond. Understanding both the visible and invisible vulnerabilities created by the pandemic, Roni led a nationwide youth response that blended urgency with empathy. Over the course of 2020 and 2021, his team distributed more than 100,000 masks to frontline workers—including doctors, police officers, sanitation workers, and garment factory laborers—often without media coverage or credit. They supplied soap and hand sanitizer to densely populated slums and rural clinics, delivered anonymous food and medicine packages to low-income families, and coordinated emergency tele-support for quarantined individuals. In an extraordinary show of compassion, the SHADOW team even launched a feeding program for street animals, ensuring that no life was forgotten. Roni’s leadership during this time set a standard for youth-led crisis response in Bangladesh, driven not by visibility but by values. His approach proved that young people, when trusted with responsibility, can respond to national emergencies with speed, sensitivity, and a sense of silent service.

Talk Hope – A Movement of Empathy in Crisis

In response to the heartbreaking suicide of a young volunteer, Md Saddam Hossain Roni founded Talk Hope in early 2024 — Bangladesh’s first 24/7 free mental health support and suicide prevention platform run entirely by youth. More than a helpline, Talk Hope represents a movement: a generation choosing to speak up, listen deeply, and stand beside each other. Within months, the platform trained over 200 volunteers in emotional first aid and peer counseling, offering real-time support to distressed individuals through social media channels. Talk Hope also conducts school and university workshops focused on emotional literacy, resilience, and stigma reduction. Under Roni’s leadership, it has created a safe digital space for those who feel unheard, proving that hope is not just an idea — it’s something we can build together.

U-CAN – United Climate Action Network

Recognizing the urgent need for youth involvement in climate justice, Roni launched U-CAN (United Climate Action Network) in 2024 — a nationwide movement to engage young people in grassroots environmental activism. U-CAN focuses on action over advocacy, mobilizing students and volunteers to lead tree plantations, river cleanups, and zero-waste campaigns in their own communities. With its "Climate Starts With Me" philosophy, U-CAN connects climate education with real-world application, encouraging youth to be not only aware but accountable. Through U-CAN, Roni has created a model where local action is central to global responsibility, empowering the next generation to protect their planet from the ground up.

World Human Rights Forum – Global Youth Voice for Rights

As a Board Member of the World Human Rights Forum (WHRF), Roni brings the voice of Bangladeshi youth into international human rights conversations. His advocacy centers on mental health as a rights issue, digital dignity, and youth agency in civic spaces. At WHRF, he contributes to regional and global strategies that elevate youth participation in policy-making, and connects South Asian grassroots realities to international platforms. Through webinars, youth dialogues, and human rights campaigns, he serves as a bridge between lived experience and structural reform — proving that real change begins when young people are not just spoken for, but allowed to speak for themselves.

Dr. Muhammad Fakhrul Islam Foundation – Nurturing Future Leaders

Named in honor of a visionary Bangladeshi educator, the Dr. Muhammad Fakhrul Islam Foundation (MFIF) exists to support underprivileged youth in their pursuit of education and leadership. As the Secretary General, Roni has played a transformative role in expanding the foundation’s outreach, scholarship model, and training activities. MFIF now provides financial and mentoring support to students from rural and low-income backgrounds, helping them not just survive the system, but thrive within it. Roni’s strategic leadership has aligned the foundation’s mission with national development goals, creating a pipeline of empowered young individuals ready to give back to their communities.

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society – Service Without Spotlight

Roni has been an active member of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society for over a decade, with deep involvement in its youth and emergency response wings. From organizing blood donation drives and first aid camps to coordinating disaster relief during floods and pandemics, his service through Red Crescent has been defined by humility and reliability. He believes that humanitarian work is most powerful when it is done quietly — not for attention, but because someone needs help. This belief has shaped his leadership style across all platforms, and continues to influence how he responds to crisis with calm, courage, and care.