Keen to make a contribution
BECOMING a New Zealand citizen in Dunedin yesterday was a ‘‘milestone’’ for Bangladeshborn scientist Shyamal Das and several close family members.
Dr Das is a senior lecturer in the University of Otago physics department, and his wife Dr Shubhra Sinha is a research fellow in pharmacy, also at Otago.
Also becoming New Zealand citizens at the citizenship ceremony at the Municipal Chambers were their children Shuchi Das (6) and Shreya Das (15).
Dr Das and his wife were married in Bangladesh and later both studied in Melbourne.
He yesterday praised Dunedin as a ‘‘small, beautiful town’’ with good facilities.
He said it brought back happy memories of his earlier experiences at Jahangirnagan University in Savar, in central Bangladesh.
Becoming a citizen gave him confidence in pursuing his new life in Dunedin, and contributing to the city’s future, he said.
Other new citizens.— Shana Akhil, Akhil Varghese Mathew (India); Jan Abraham Vyver Bezuidenhout, Caroline Ann Bezuidenhout, Jemma Ann Bezuidenhout; Caide Abraham Bezuidenhout (South Africa); Steven Annay Chand (Fiji); Efren Garcia Damason, Nelly Dalere Damason, Jezreel Mae Dalere Damason, Efren Jake Dalere Damason (Philippines); Lorrine Kabita Deo (Fiji); Anna Louise Maria Douglas (Netherlands); Paarthiphan Elankumaran (Sri Lanka); Raymond John Elfield (Britain); Alyssa Nicole Edrolin Gamao (Philippines); Cristina Victoria Inger (United States); Munish Kalra, Anupma Kalra, Bhavya Kalra (India); Jason Kirby (Australia); Angela Latulipe, Dominic Fretton (Samoa); Xinhuai Liu (China); Liam Angus McIlvanney, Joseph James Muldoon (Britain); Colin Jeffrey Murfett (Australia); Marcela Nicholson (Czech Republic); Christine Suzane Caracena Rivera (Philippines); Steven Andrew Fraser Smith, Martyn Colin Solomon, Julie Ann Tebbutt (Britain); Galina Usoltseva (Russia); En Berg Watanabe (Japan/US); So Jung Lee (Korea).