Globetrotter Boni Amin connects Bengalis to diverse world cultures

Boni Amin, a Bangladesh-born globetrotter and social media content creator, has connected millions of Bangla-speaking people to diverse cultures across the world by his vlogging.

To date, he has travelled to 82 countries, gaining significant attention on social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook. His travel videos, showcasing his extraordinary experiences across the globe, have reached over 200 million Bengali-speaking viewers on YouTube alone, with the reach on Facebook being at least 20 times greater.

Boni Amin was born in the early 1960s in the tranquil and remote Char Chenga village on Hatiya Island in Noakhali, a place where time seems to move slower and nature takes centre stage. His childhood was immersed in the simplicity and serenity of island life, surrounded by the vast waters of the Bay of Bengal and the close-knit community of this isolated region.

An alumnus of Chittagong University in Statistics of Dhaka University in Laws, Boni Amin completed an Advanced Diploma in Law from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in Australia and a one-year law diploma in London, broadening his horizons even further.

Boni Amin’s first international trip occurred in September 1990, when he ventured to Kolkata, India, igniting a lifelong love for travel. In 1992, he moved to Australia, settling in Sydney, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that became their new home. There, he built a successful career in law and became an Australian citizen in 1994. He began his career in linguistics as an interpreter and translator in four languages starting in early 1992. Alongside his legal profession and several other main careers, he still works as an interpreter for various Australian government agencies. Currently, he is working with a significant organisation from another country, which requires him to travel frequently to different countries. Despite the comfort and opportunities Australia provided, Boni’s wanderlust could not be contained. His childhood dream of seeing the world began to take shape, and he set out to explore the corners of the earth, embarking on adventures he had once only dreamed of.

Boni Amin credits much of his curiosity and desire to travel to the books he read, which went beyond his school curriculum. These books ignited a fire within him to explore the world and understand its diverse cultures. He fondly recalls how, as a child, he would gaze up at planes flying overhead and dream, "I wish I could fly around the world like that." At one point, he even prayed to Allah, asking for the chance to board a plane at least 100 times before he passed away. By the year 2000, that dream had been fulfilled.

Since that first trip in 1990, Boni Amin has travelled to 82 countries, with many visits to several of them. He has explored six continents, from the bustling cities of India, where he has visited 31 times, to the tranquil islands of the Pacific, where he has had unforgettable encounters with the people of Samoa and Tonga. His travels have taken him to China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South America, and even Israel, Palestine, and Myanmar. In every destination, he immerses himself in the local culture, capturing everyday life, food habits, and traditions in his videos, which he shares with his growing social media audience.

Boni’s most popular videos have garnered millions of views, touching upon everything from the Chinese practice of eating insects to his experience testing water on Japan’s bullet train. His video about the life of Bangladeshis in cages in South Africa has captivated over 11 million viewers, sparking conversations and inspiring many to embark on their own journeys. His engaging and humorous narration has resonated with people from all walks of life, leading some to even imitate his style in an effort to gain social media attention.

Despite his global fame, Boni Amin has never forgotten his roots. Though he has only visited Hatiya Island four times in the last 35 years, his love for the place remains strong. It’s where he was born, and he always feels a deep connection to it. Recently, in an interview in Dhaka, Boni spoke fondly of his travels and the countries he had dreamed of visiting. He mentioned that he has now set foot in almost every country on his wish list and that his dream is to continue traveling the world for as long as he lives, experiencing the diverse cultures and landscapes the planet has to offer, much like a bird soaring across the sky.

Hatiya Island, with its peaceful waters and unhurried pace, remains a place close to Boni’s heart. The island’s beauty lies not just in its natural surroundings but in the simplicity of life there—where the waves of the Bay of Bengal lap gently at the shores, and the people carry a quiet dignity in their everyday lives. The sense of belonging and peace that Hatiya provides is something that Boni Amin has carried with him throughout his travels, no matter how far from home he goes. From the bustling streets of Chittagong city to the far-flung islands of the Pacific, Boni Amin’s journey reflects a deep-rooted desire to connect with the world while never forgetting where he originally came from.