Khalid Farhan, one of Bangladesh’s most prominent digital entrepreneurs and content strategists, began his journey more than a decade ago when freelancing was still an unfamiliar concept in the country. From earning one dollar per article to building Passive Journal, his growing digital media and education platform, Farhan’s story reflects the evolution of Bangladesh’s digital economy itself.
He talked with Times of Bangladesh about his early struggles, the lessons learned from failure and his vision of creating the country’s largest personal brand. The interview is conducted by Shamim Shopno.
The full interview follows…
TIMES: Can you share a bit about your early life and what inspired you to pursue freelancing?
Farhan: I started freelancing in 2010, right after finishing school and entering Dhaka College. Back then, hardly anyone in Bangladesh knew what freelancing was. There was no real infrastructure for it. No reliable internet, no proper guidance. Internet access was expensive and slow. I still remember using a Grameenphone modem that cost around Tk 350 for just a day’s worth of 10GB data.
I discovered freelancing through blogs. I loved reading, and on some blogs, I learned that people were getting paid to write online. Out of curiosity, I explored a few online marketplaces, most of which don’t exist anymore, and started applying for small writing jobs. I got paid one dollar for every 500 words.
It wasn’t about money at first. I started purely out of curiosity, to explore something new and see what could come of it.
TIMES: What were the biggest challenges you faced at the beginning and how did you overcome them?
Farhan: The biggest challenge was definitely the lack of infrastructure. We were among the first batch of freelancers in Bangladesh, so there was no clear process for receiving payments, determining which banks to use, or even opening an account. I was under 18 at the time, so I had to figure out how to bring money into my mother’s account.
Then there was the issue of the internet and technology. Computers weren’t common in homes, and smartphones had just arrived. The whole idea of remote work was unfamiliar to most people. Today it feels normal, especially after COVID, but back in 2010, it was almost unheard of to collaborate with someone across the world whom you’d never met.
TIMES: Was there a defining moment when you realised digital marketing and entrepreneurship were your calling?
Farhan: That moment came around 2015 or 2016, when I built and sold my first website. It was about drones, which were new at the time. The site started performing well, and I eventually sold it to a buyer in Canada for $4,500.
That experience changed my perspective completely. I realised that freelancing wasn’t the only way to make money online. There was a much bigger game beyond trading time for income. I saw the potential in building something of my own, like a business or a brand. That sale was the turning point that pushed me toward entrepreneurship.
TIMES: Many young Bangladeshis hesitate to start digital businesses. What would you tell them?
Farhan: My advice is simple. Since the entry barrier for digital business is so low, not trying is a mistake. You don’t need a physical shop, a big investment, or an office. All you need is a laptop, internet, and the willingness to learn.
If it required a few lakhs to even start, hesitation would make sense. But when something can be tested with almost zero cost, it’s unwise not to try.
And the world is shifting fast. When I started studying digital marketing, traditional advertising, such as TV, billboards was still dominant. Now, it’s nearly 50-50 between digital and traditional. In a few years, digital will take the lead entirely. So it only makes sense to prepare for that future.
TIMES: If a small business wants to expand digitally with limited resources, where should it begin?
Farhan: The smartest path is to “play the content game.” But that doesn’t mean sitting in front of a camera and talking about your product. It means creating entertaining, engaging content around your product or service that people actually want to watch.
When you make people laugh, learn or feel something, they naturally become aware of your brand. Any business that masters this can build a strong digital presence without spending much.
TIMES: What daily habits keep you productive and motivated?
Farhan: Research. Every single day, I try to learn something new. Trends only reveal themselves to people who constantly research.
I genuinely believe the biggest difference between two people isn’t how much work they do, but how much they know and how they apply that knowledge. Researching trends, reading and staying updated, these habits have shaped everything I’ve achieved so far.
TIMES: Looking back, what mistake taught you the most?
Farhan: My biggest mistake was not thinking big enough because of fear. There was a time when I knew that if I spent one dollar on a business, I’d get three dollars back. But I was too afraid to invest $3,000, even though the math was obvious.
That fear of risk held me back for years. I kept thinking small instead of scaling big. I often regret that hesitation.
TIMES: Who has been your biggest influence, personally or professionally?
Farhan: If I talk about my biggest influencer, it would probably be my mother, because I believe my work ethic comes from her. Other than that, there’s not much that specifically influences me. I’m influenced by pretty much everything. Whenever I see something, I want to do it.
Whenever I see something, I feel like I have the opportunity to do that thing too. So, I’m inspired by all kinds of stories, success, failure, everything. But if I had to pick one big point, it would be my mother, because of the work ethic. I don’t think I would be able to work this hard if I hadn’t seen her working so hard.
TIMES: What advice would you give to the next generation of Bangladeshi content creators?
Farhan: Understand the difference between getting views and building trust. Views are easy to get. You can do almost anything for attention. But views don’t always equal influence. Many creators have millions of followers but can’t sell a single product because they never built trust.
On the other hand, some creators with only a few hundred thousand followers run successful businesses because their audience believes in them. So yes, views matter but never chase them at the cost of credibility.
TIMES: What are your ultimate goals for Passive Journal and your personal brand?
Farhan: My goal is to build the biggest personal brand in Bangladesh and to try to prove that it is possible to run all kinds of businesses using a personal brand.
We were the first in Bangladesh to launch the concept that courses or educational materials could be sold using a personal brand, starting in 2017. No one did it before then, but now many people do.
Similarly, I’m trying to establish that it is possible to sell cars, sell houses, run newsletters and provide study consultation services; that everything is possible using a personal brand. And my plan for the next 10-15 years is to establish the biggest personal brand in Bangladesh.
