Talk Hope - Roni

Md Saddam Hossain Roni

Md Saddam Hossain Roni (born 7 May 1994) is a Bangladeshi social activist, youth leader, and humanitarian. He is the founder of Talk Hope, Bangladesh’s first free 24/7 suicide prevention and emotional support platform, and the Founder of SHADOW (Society for Humanity And Development Over the World), a youth-led social development organization. He is widely recognized for his dedication to youth empowerment, mental health awareness, volunteerism, and peacebuilding across South Asia.

Early Life and Education

Saddam Hossain Roni was born in Cumilla, Bangladesh and raised in a service-oriented family rooted in the values of discipline and compassion. His father, Md Khorshed Alam Bhuiyan, is a retired police officer, and his mother, Saleha Akter, is a homemaker.

Roni completed his BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Earlier, he studied at Comilla Government College (HSC) and Comilla Modern High School (SSC). Alongside academics, he developed a strong foundation in leadership through involvement in youth clubs and social service.

He is also the Charter President and Chief Adviser of the Rotary Interact Alumni Association of South Asia (RIAASA) and a member of the Rotarian Action Group for Peace.

Career and Leadership:

Roni began his career with a deep commitment to humanitarian service. He served in various leadership roles in Rotary International, including:

1st District Interact Representative – Rotary District 3282
Charter President – Rotaract Club of Dhaka Orchid
Chief District Rotaract Trainer – District 3281
Council on Legislation Representative (2022–2025)
Paul Harris Fellow (+6 recognitions)
Official Endorser of Rotary Peace Fellowship Scholarship (2022-2026)

In his professional life, Roni serves as:

Brand Development Officer at Sthapona Architectural Consultants Ltd.
CEO of SHADOW IT
Managing Director of SHADOW Communications
Managing Director of SHADOW Engineering Solutions

Talk Hope: Suicide Prevention Initiative

The tragedy of losing a young volunteer to suicide on 27 February 2024 inspired Roni to launch Talk Hope on 29 February 2024, under SHADOW. The initiative provides free, 24/7 emotional support, peer counseling, and awareness programs on mental health and suicide prevention across Bangladesh.

Talk Hope operates through:

Youth-led volunteer training
Seminars and workshops in schools, colleges, and universities
Digital outreach and emotional helplines
Collaboration with the licensed psychologists

Roni also completed international certifications in support of this initiative, including:

Psychological First Aid – Johns Hopkins University
Gender Analytics – University of Toronto
Introduction to Psychology – Yale University
Professional Certification on IT Support Specialist – Google
Professional Certification on Project Management – Google
Data Science – IBM

Awards and Recognition

Rotary Youth Leadership All-Star (Top 5 globally) – 2017
Paul Harris Fellow (6 times)
Featured on multiple official Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact platforms
Ranked among the top 3 learners in Rotary District 3281 & Top 10 Globally through Rotary Learning Center

Affiliations and Contributions

Roni is a lifelong volunteer and holds lifetime membership in the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. He served as an Adult Scout Leader in the Abani Open Scout Group and is the Member at International Board of Director in the World Human Rights Forum (WHRF). He is the Secretary General of MFIF. Through SHADOW and Talk Hope, he continues to advocate for mental health, youth leadership, peace, and human rights.

Personal Life

Roni resides in Dhaka, Feni and Cumilla, continuing his full-time involvement in social development work. He is known for his structured leadership, visionary mindset, and commitment to building a compassionate society.