Dr Deb, who is a research fellow in the University of Otago physics department, has spent the past five years waiting and hoping to gain New Zealand citizenship.
Yesterday they were among 29 people from about 15 countries who became citizens at a 2pm ceremony where Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull congratulated them on becoming New Zealand citizens as well as Dunedin residents.
Dr Deb and Mrs Sen, who both come from northeast Bangladesh, were "excited'' to have their long-cherished dream of citizenship fulfilled.
He had gained a doctorate in physics at Oxford University, in England, before working initially in the United States.
He then returned to Bangladesh to be married, and took up an Otago University job seven years ago.
"I think it's a special moment,'' Dr Deb said.
The citizenship also provided more security for them and their two children, Arjun and Ankit.
Mrs Sen said Dunedin was "like my home town'' in Bangladesh, and she had learned to enjoy the city's winter, which she initially found too cold.
"This is our new home now,'' Dr Deb added.
"This is a very big thing. You start with a dream,'' he said.
"It's great to have this sense of belonging.''
Other new citizens.- Zahra Abbassian (Afghanistan); Mark John Allan, Tammy Lucille Allan, Samantha Jade Allan (South Africa); Edward William Ansell (Britain), Dr Ling Chan Ansell (Britain, Portugal); Sneha Bothara (Nepal); Shital Eldho, Saira Eldho (India); Alexandrea Georgina Georgeou (Britain) Victoria Yue Liu (China); Claire Elizabeth Llewellyn (Britain), Dr Erin Cuffe Macaulay (United States); Sandra Mandic (Canada/ Croatia); Philip Alan McKague (Canada); Bob Fister Lopez Moday (Philippines), Yvonne Charisse Muring Tabaco (Philippines); Famisha Farha Naz (Fiji); Colette Ana Rivera (United States); Alphonsa Santhosh (India); Yaohua Shen (China); Hanzhe Lyu (China); Karen Louise Spreckley (Britain); Kim Eng Tay (Malaysia); Elisabeth Tischler (Austria); Marco Zilioli (Italy).
