Bangladesh belongs to south Asia. The area of the country is 147,570 square Km with more than 700 KM long coastline. This is the most densely populated country of the world. Eighty percent of the total population in the country depend on agriculture and live in rural areas. Agriculture dominates the Bangladesh economy. The performance of agriculture sector has an overwhelming impact on major macroeconomic objectives like Employment Generation, Poverty Alleviation, Human Resources Development and Food security. This densely populated country has 800 people per sq.km. It is classified as least developed, low income, food-deficit country. Approximately 50 percent of the population falls below the absolute poverty line. Despite substantial improvements in overall poverty alleviation in Bangladesh over the past few decades, large inequalities in living standards exist across geographical space as well as among socio-economic groups.

Shykh Seraj received the Honours and Masters Degree in Geography from the University of Dhaka. Since his education life, he was related with the media via cultural activities and development journalism. Being an emblem of the media and development journalism, Shykh Seraj is contributing endlessly for the agriculture, rural development and poverty alleviation of the country. In 1982, Shykh Seraj started a documentary programme titled, 'Mati O Manush' (Soil & Men) as the presenter on Bangladesh Television (BTV), the only state-owned terrestrial television channel in Bangladesh. This programme had very noteworthy textures: That Rice and Jute cultivation is not only the cultivation in Bangladesh; that poultry, fisheries and rooftop gardening (Micro Gardening) of fruits and vegetables is also a part of agriculture. Shykh Seraj was successful in making numerous booming entrepreneurs from this particular concept as well. The triumph legend motivated unemployed people as well as simple housewives. Predominantly, the programme 'Mati O Manush' (Soil & Men) was a motivational agricultural programme and motivated people effectively and prolifically. According to a statistical account, there were no commercial poultry farms in Bangladesh before 90's. After a five-year campaign of 'Mati O Manush', around 50,000 poultry farms were developed all over the country in Bangladesh. Growing high quality Guavas (Kazi Pyaras) are also an achievement popularized by 'Mati O Manush'. The programme 'Mati O Manush' took shape in 1982 with the generous help of TV producer late Alimuzzaman. In 1986, the programme 'Mati O Manush' was improved to include individual success stories and income generation activities such as crop diversity, vegetable cropping, etc. Taking momentum and observing the hopelessness of the housewives residing in the city and those who live in the low-income groups, new measures for motivation were undertaken through the programme. Total 588 episodes of the programme 'Mati O Manush' was presented by Shykh Seraj and was telecast Bangladesh Television.

What made Shykh Seraj give it all up? A Masters in Geography from the prestigious Dhaka University of Bangladesh, he could have joined in any suitable job for his own development. What made him exchange a seemly lucrative career with a challenging life as a media person for the social and economic development of the country in Bangladesh by eliminating poverty? Shykh Seraj was interested in social intervention since his undergraduate days.

His very own method of communication made the programme very popular. 'Mati O Manush' (Soil & Men) became a living room entertainment programme. Everybody started pointing towards this diligent man who basically fought for the marginal farmers while he, on the other hand, was planting the motivational seed, 'You can do it' in the hearts of millions.

'Hakim Ali's Fish Farm'- a very special report on Mati O Manush became a symbol of today's millions of fishermen who wish to use their unused ponds. Seraj showed that nothing should be laid idle, when you are thinking about agriculture. Shykh Seraj made millions of farmers from zero to hero, just planting the seed in their hearts, 'You can do it'. Then, from idle to thoughtful and industrious. It was in the farmers, and Shykh Seraj just triggered and pumped up their innate talent so that they can produce golden crops for the country and can eradicate the food crisis. Shykh Seraj made all the farmers the hero of the nation and told them firmly, 'Yes you are the key and most significant role-players of our economy.'

Previously, thousands of village household ponds, shallow and wetland used to lay wasted and barren. Hakim Ali influenced millions of unemployed youth, housewives, ultra poor, and even educated, respectable people to start fish cultivation in such ponds. But, Hakim Ali was the creation of Shykh Seraj who thought if he can bring the image of Hakim Ali in front the poor marginal farmers, then they would also learn how to exist, while being self-reliant. Like this manner, people were also motivated in agricultural allied services like livestock, dairy and fishery rather only doing main crops like rice, jute and wheat. The programme 'Mati O Manush' had a massive impact on various agricultural sub sectors. Today, seasonal vegetables are commercially available throughout the year and household poultry are a regular phenomenon.

Seraj brought access to modern agricultural trends and techniques for the common farmers who lived in areas where electricity has not yet reached and people cannot watch television programme regularly. He conducted many multi-media projections at field level, apart from his television schedules just to make sure that farmers are learning and implementing the right and exact agricultural tool.

Shykh Seraj played the vital role in the agro-economic advancement. Due to his contribution to the field of development, he received many awards at home and abroad. He received the highest and most reputed National Award, Ekushey Padak in 1995 as the youngest ever in the history of Bangladesh. He was selected as an Ashoka Fellow because of his contribution in agriculture by electronic media for poverty elimination. 

Shykh Seraj has won the prestigious FAO A.H. Boerma Award for 2008-2009. It was declared at the FAO HQ in Rome on 16th of October, 2009 (which is the World Food Day and birthday of FAO as well.)

Later, he played yet another dynamic role in the establishment of the most popular and successful audio-visual production house named Impress Telefilm Ltd. Afterwards, from Impress Telefilm Ltd. , in 1999, the first private digital satellite television channel in Bengali language, Channel-i incepted its journey. Shykh Seraj is now the Director and Head of News of Channel i. During holidays, while at Chandpur, his home district, he motivated poor farmers to be united to organize farmers' association for socio-economic change through informal education of the underprivileged. He established Krishi Clubs (Agri Clubs) to motivate, aware and train farmers of distant areas.

In 2002, Shykh Seraj started thinking about reviving the essence of programme, Mati O Manush on Channel-i. after an extensive research work of two years, the channel aired the first episode of the revived programme, with a slightly changed name, 'Hridoye Mati O Manush' (Soil & Men in Heart).

Since June 2003, after an extensive research work for two years, Shykh Seraj along with his associates and team members introduced and telecast the first episode of the revived programme, with a slightly changed name, 'Hridoye Mati O Manush' (Soil & Men in Heart) on 21st February, 2004 (International Mother Language Day)

This programme is aimed at economic development, poverty alleviation including farmers, local leaders, business community, stakeholders, policy makers, donor organizations, UN Agencies, civil society, entrepreneurs' and developers in the country. Only a few of the country's TV programmes have a history of revival. Shykh Seraj's acclaimed programme on agriculture, 'Hridoye Mati O Manush', presently being aired on Channel-i, has set that record and set it in quite a remarkable way. It has been able to attract the attention of the audience much like its earlier version –Mati O Manush on Bangladesh Television. The BTV programme was a milestone. Few TV viewers could fathom that a programme on agriculture could be so interesting. Moreover, many disbelieved that a youth of Seraj's age could have such complete dedication to agriculture--probably the most neglected sector of this agriculture-based country. "I have always believed that our country can never prosper if our agriculture does not develop," says Shykh Seraj. "And this belief had drawn me to make such a TV programme. I thought that if I can motivate the people, both rural and urban…if my programme can provide them with the slightest guideline, maybe one day there will be the real 'Green Revolution' in our country."

Through this programme, every single image of agricultural and technological development success in Bangladesh and round the world, is represented. His prime concern was to bring the whole scenario of agriculture into the eyes of the policy makers of the country. He started the venture of bringing the stories of the central ground of the economic development, agriculture i.e. accomplishment and tribulation of the rural life, on the mainstream news of both electronic and print media. Moreover, establishment of Farmers' Organization, Chamber of Commerce for Farmers and the extensiveness of the agriculture industry has been praised among the policy makers at home and abroad.

Afterward, under the planning, presentation and direction of Shykh Seraj, another programme, titled, 'Hridoye Mati O Manusher Daak' (The Post of Soil & Men in Heart) was started on Channel-i from December 2004. This was the first programme in the history of Bangladesh where grass-root level farmers could have an argumentative conversation with the policy makers in an inter-active conduct. This is particularly an accountability-based talk show, hosted and directed by Shykh Seraj where a marginal farmer has the access to discuss directly with the policy maker and this programme has actually become a bridge between the marginal farmer and the policy maker. Shykh Seraj has recently once again introduced yet another brand-new programme in Bangladesh Television titled, 'Krishi Dibanishi' (Agriculture Round the Clock) from the 13th August 2007 under his own planning, presentation and direction, where Modern Agricultural Science, Technology, Environment, Agriculture Commerce and Industry, Market management and Different sectors of the rural life are highlighted. The findings from the above-mentioned programmes have become the essential guideline for the agriculture policies of the country.

He started his informational and motivational Television programme while he was in the University. The intention was to raise consciousness of individual to attain power and self-sufficiency among the common people of Bangladesh. He participated in the Open University Distant Education Programme named 'Krishi Koushal' and also in the national radio programme named 'Near Soil, Near Man'.

Widely traveled man, Mr. Seraj attended many seminars / workshops in USA, UK, Philippine, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, China, Norway, Sweden, Thailand and most parts of the world. Shykh Seraj is so very popular in all over Bangladesh because of his modern, unique presentation and strong commitment to uphold Bangladeshi culture and strong determination for eliminating poverty through agricultural development.

Young Asia Television produced a short documentary on the activities of Shykh Seraj and had telecast it in different channels. World-reputed News Agency, Reuters had also made a documentary on Shykh Seraj, which was telecast worldwide on March 1, 2007.

Shykh's TV programme greatly contributed in changing the fates of 100 million people of Bangladesh and he has already become a household name. He became absorbed in the arid soil of Bengal. He has been worshipping the land. He will get hundred times the compassion and affection from this land. As a mother, the land will definitely provide her son a comfortable shelter. That is why Unitrend Advertising Agency, had honoured him with the fame of 'Son of the Soil'. And, this has become his nick name now a days.

Since 5th December, 2007, Shykh Seraj started writing an agricultural column for the The Daily Jugantor, titled, Matir Kache Manusher Kache (Closer to soil…Nearer to Men). Already…articles have been published and it's on a running process of weekly publication. People are getting very much benefited as this article is working as a complete document of the Agriculture Chronicle of Bangladesh.

Shykh Seraj has been portraying a realistic and simple picture on television of the ongoing changes in agriculture, the increase in productivity (land, labour, water etc.), the rise and fall in farmers' profit and loss, how the farmer takes advantage of technology or faces the problems. His sole aim is modernization of agriculture and increasing farmers' income. Shykh Seraj is an established personality in this country. He is well known not only as a 'Media Man' but also as a unique person who has pioneered the silent revolution in Bangladesh's economy and agriculture. Shykh Seraj is a shining example that without making a strong promise to oneself it is not possible for someone to stand beside the impoverished people.

Shykh Seraj in his programme 'Mati O Manush' has introduced self-income generating activities like Coala bird farming, vegetable cultivation in backyards, aquarium fishing and beef fattening. All these concepts gained tremendous popularity and the revolutionary development phase kicked off.

Shykh Seraj is a great inventor, a great teacher, a true friend of the rural people. He is endlessly working for agriculture via media and that is how nobody has ever worked throughout the world. He is no scientist, no technologist, no farmer, no specialist- but he is the sole mentor of agriculture…who has been comforting the impoverished farmers and the agricultural scenario of Bangladesh with a smiling face, still not having any of the reputed designations above. He is the 'Son of the Soil'. He is bringing the farmers' stories- sad, glorious, heroic or successful, in front of everyone around the world, and he is a silent revolutionist of agriculture who wants to see that Bangladesh, having so many natural resources, would stand firm in the global economy map. He wants to see Bangladesh as a self-reliant country…That is his only dream.