Staff Correspondent
When engineers look back on the evolution of corporate infrastructure in South Asia, the Grameenphone House (GP House) often emerges as a milestone. As Bangladesh’s first green corporate building, it set a new standard for sustainability, energy efficiency, and modern workspace design. At the heart of this landmark project was Md. Akteruzzaman, an electrical and facility management engineer whose career spans nearly two decades across telecom, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. Now pursuing his Master of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, Md. Akter reflects on the GP House project as a defining chapter of his career — one that shaped his leadership style, his technical expertise, and his lifelong commitment to sustainability.

The Vision Behind GP House

The GP House project was envisioned as far more than a conventional corporate headquarters for Grameenphone Ltd., the largest telecom operator in Bangladesh; it was conceived as a landmark that would embody the company’s corporate identity while showcasing its deep-rooted commitment to environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, and sustainable innovation. As Md. Akter explained, “When we started planning GP House, we weren’t only thinking about telecom infrastructure. We wanted a facility that would reflect the values of sustainability, efficiency, and modernity. It was a chance to show that Bangladesh could lead in green corporate design.” Guided by this philosophy, GP House integrated a series of advanced energy technologies and eco-friendly design features, including dual-fuel gas turbines with co-generation technology to ensure uninterrupted power for telecom operations while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions, energy-efficient cooling systems to minimize electricity consumption, and open office layouts that conserved resources while promoting collaboration, transparency, and modern workplace culture. In addition to these features, the project embraced renewable energy through the installation of solar power panels, marking a significant step toward diversifying its energy mix and reducing reliance on fossil fuels; these panels not only harnessed clean energy but also further reduced greenhouse gas emissions, setting a precedent for sustainable corporate architecture in Bangladesh.

Technical Responsibilities and Challenges

As a Senior System Engineer and part of the project’s core team, Md. Akter carried responsibility for facility services, power systems, and environmental controls. The challenges were immense: the facility needed to host a mission-critical data center and a mobile services switching center operating on a 24/7 basis. The biggest pressure point was uptime,” Md. Akter recalled. “Every second of downtime could affect millions of customers. So, while we were trying to reduce energy consumption, we could never compromise on reliability. That balancing act was the hardest and most rewarding part of the project.” One of his team’s most significant achievements was designing a redundant power and cooling system that allowed operations to continue seamlessly, even under high demand or unexpected outages. “We worked tirelessly to ensure the data center had full redundancy. Our philosophy was simple: sustainability must not mean fragility. We had to prove that green technology could also be the most reliable technology.”

Leading a Multidisciplinary Team

Beyond the technical systems, Md. Akter also oversaw a team of 11 engineers and facility staff, coordinating across finance, administration, and senior management. This required both technical expertise and strong managerial communication.“Managing people was just as important as managing machines,” he said. “I learned that engineers alone can’t deliver a project of this scale. You have to build trust with finance teams who worry about costs, HR teams who think about employee well-being, and executives who want a showcase building. My role became about translating technical language into something everyone could believe in. That leadership experience became a foundation for his later roles, including Assistant General Manager at Evercare Hospital Dhaka, where he applied the same communication and process skills to healthcare facility operations.

Designing for People, Not Just Systems

For Md. Akter, one of the most meaningful aspects of GP House was how the design prioritized people. Instead of traditional cubicles, the project introduced open office spaces with modern lighting, ventilation, and ergonomic considerations. “We wanted employees to feel that they weren’t just coming to work but coming to a place where innovation was natural,” he said. “That meant making the environment friendly, energy-conscious, and supportive of collaboration. The building itself was meant to inspire.” The facility also included advanced safety features and emergency systems. Md Akter’s training in fire safety, high-voltage systems, and facility audits proved invaluable.“I always say, sustainability is not complete without safety. A green building must also be a safe building. We made sure GP House had cutting-edge safety protocols alongside its energy innovations.”

A Landmark in Dhaka

When the GP House was inaugurated, it quickly became a landmark in Dhaka — a symbol of what corporate infrastructure could look like in a rapidly developing country. Its environmental and operational innovations were celebrated as benchmarks for future construction in Bangladesh.“Even now, when I visit Bangladesh, people mention GP House as a model project,” Md Akter reflected with pride. “It makes me realize that our work had a long-term impact, not just on Grameenphone, but on how the country views corporate responsibility.” The project also influenced Md Akter’s perspective on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. Later in his career, he conducted ESG gap analyses for commercial and hospital buildings, directly linking back to the lessons he learned at GP House

From Dhaka to Texas: A Global Journey

Today, as a graduate student in Texas, Md Akter continues to apply those lessons in a new cultural and technical environment. At Lamar University, he not only studies advanced engineering concepts but also serves as Organizing Secretary of the Bangladesh Student Association, reflecting his lifelong commitment to leadership and community. “I see my journey as continuous learning. From Dhaka’s telecom sector to Beaumont’s academic environment, the principles are the same: lead responsibly, think sustainably, and deliver with reliability.” Looking ahead, Md Akter hopes to contribute his expertise to U.S. critical infrastructure projects, particularly in areas like healthcare facilities, telecom networks, and ESG-driven construction. “The U.S. is at the frontier of infrastructure innovation. My dream is to combine what I learned in Bangladesh with what I’m learning here to contribute to projects that serve communities and protect the environment,” he concluded.