Aga Khan Academy Dhaka celebrates class of 2026

The Aga Khan Academy Dhaka celebrated the graduation of its second International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme cohort today (May 22, 2026), marking another important milestone in the Academy's journey. Held for the first time on campus in the Academy’s Commons, the ceremony honoured 35 students from the Class of 2026.

The graduation ceremony brought together students, families, faculty and distinguished guests to recognise the achievements of the graduating class. This included Dr Juan González, Vice Provost for Global Engagement at The University of Texas at Dallas, which is a partner with the Aga Khan Schools to expand higher education opportunities and strengthen global pathways for its students. The ceremony was also live-streamed to extended family members, friends, the wider school community and alumni of the Aga Khan Schools, reaching nearly 6,000 viewers across the country and internationally.

Before the graduation ceremony, a special pinning ceremony was held for the graduating class with their teachers and mentors. As part of a tradition, the graduates were awarded a pin signifying the completion of their time at the Academy as they join a growing legacy of alumni across the Aga Khan Schools around the world.

Mr Sandy Mackenzie, Head of Academy for the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka, opened the ceremony with a warm welcome while also recognising the positive impact the graduates have made on the school community and beyond.

“This graduation holds special significance as the first to be held on our campus,” Mr Mackenzie said. “The Class of 2026 has contributed positively to the life of the Academy, from student-led initiatives to their leadership on the field and across our community. They have shown themselves to be principled leaders and caring stewards, open-minded, courageous and deeply appreciative of pluralism. Today, we celebrate all they have achieved and look forward to the contributions they will make to more just and sustainable communities.”

During the keynote address, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Executive Chairman of the Power and Participation Research Centre and Chairperson of BRAC Bangladesh, encouraged the graduates to reflect on their responsibilities as young leaders and to use their education in service of their communities and the wider world.

“Uncertainty is a defining feature of today’s world,” said Dr Rahman. “It may not always be clear what jobs, professions or higher education opportunities lie ahead, but we should not be fearful of uncertainty as long as we are confident in ourselves. Please remember, you are your best asset. Nurture that asset through continuous skilling, continuous improvement and both formal and experiential learning.”

Dr Rahim Somani, General Manager of the Aga Khan Schools, was also present at the ceremony. He reflected on the significance of celebrating the IB Diploma Programme graduations across the Aga Khan Schools network this year.

“When I look at our graduates, one word comes to mind: hope,” he said. “These young people leave our schools not only with knowledge and skills, but with resilience, compassion and strength of character. They represent a generation that will help build more pluralistic, just, and sustainable societies while improving the quality of life of the communities they will go on to serve.”

The Class of 2026 has received more than 200 admissions offers from prestigious universities in Bangladesh and around the world with scholarships exceeding $3 million. The admission offers include Vanderbilt University, University of California, Berkeley; New York University; Georgia Institute of Technology; Imperial College London; University College London; University of Hong Kong; and University of Melbourne, to name a few.

“Within these red brick walls, we transformed,” said Sahnia Faham, the class speaker and president of the Student Council, who reflected on the graduates’ journey at the Academy.

“A classroom became a conference room, a hallway became a stadium, and this very hall became a concert venue, a business hub and a second home. These last two years taught us perseverance and resilience, and as we leave the Academy, I know each of us will be anything but another brick in the wall.”

As the Academy’s second graduating cohort, the Class of 2026 represents the continued growth of the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka and its mission to prepare young people for lives of leadership, service and positive contribution to Bangladesh and beyond.

The full graduation ceremony is available to watch online via YouTube here.    

ABOUT THE AGA KHAN ACADEMY DHAKA  

Built on a 17-acre, award-winning campus, the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for exceptional students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

It is part of the Aga Khan Schools, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which is a global education system of schools, hostels and non-formal education programme centres across East Africa, the Middle East and South and Central Asia.

The Academy aims to provide students with an education of the highest international standard through a rigorous academic programme and rich co-curricular experience to prepare them for lives characterised by leadership and service. Admission to the Academy is based on merit.