Mithila’s unusual reason for studying political science

Actress and model Rafiath Rashid Mithila has revealed an unexpected reason behind her decision to study political science at the University of Dhaka: the subject had the word “science” in its name.

Speaking on a podcast, Mithila said she had studied science throughout school and had little idea about the subjects offered at the university’s Faculty of Arts when she was choosing her undergraduate major.

Mithila completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science at the University of Dhaka. But before university, she had studied mathematics, physics and chemistry in the science stream for both her SSC and HSC examinations.

She said her childhood memories of visiting the university’s Arts Faculty with her mother also influenced her decision to study there. She had developed a strong attachment to the place and decided that if she attended the university, she wanted to study at the Arts Faculty.

As her family had limited financial means and she was among the first in her family to attend university, Mithila said she had little guidance on choosing a subject. When she encountered unfamiliar disciplines such as political science, public administration, women and gender studies and economics, she was initially confused.

During her admission interview, she was advised to choose political science. With little understanding of the subject at the time, she agreed—partly because, as she jokingly recalled, “there was science in it.”

She went on to complete her honours and master’s degrees in the subject before building a successful career in acting.