UIU and FBHRO signs MoA to organise the National HR Convention 

A memorandum of agreement (MoA) was signed between the Federation of Bangladesh Human Resource Organizations (FBHRO) and United International University (UIU) on July 14, 2018 at UIU campus to organise the National HR Convention for 5 (five) consecutive years. UIU agreed to be the title sponsor of the event.

The MoA was signed by Prof. Dr. Chowdhury Mofizur Rahman, VC (Designate), UIU and Md. Musharrof Hossain, founder President, FBHRO.

Both parties expressed their great satisfaction for the historic partnership agreement for holding National HR Convention in Bangladesh. It is expected that the convention will contribute to the development of HR professionals locally and globally. This convention will be the annual signature programme of FBHRO. FBHRO includes the following member organizations: Bangladesh Society for Human Resources Management (BSHRM); Bangladesh Organization for Learning and Development (BOLD); Institute of Personnel Management (IPM); Bangladesh Society for Apparel Human Resources Society (BSAHRP); Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Human Resource Society (BPHRS); Institute of Business and Economic Research (IBER), United International University (UIU); and Human Resource Development Institute (HRDI), Daffodil International University (DIU). As declared, the first FBHRO-UIU National HR Convention will be held in November 2018.

IUB arranges seminar titled "Dream Big"

The School of Business at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) executed a seminar titled "Dream Big" on July 11, 2018 at the university's own campus in Bashundhara, Dhaka. Shawpna Bhowmick, Country Manager, Marks and Spencer, Bangladesh & Myanmar was the key speaker at the seminar.

At the outset, Prof. Mohd. Aminul Karim, Dean, School of Business, IUB introduced the speaker before the audience. Subsequently, Trustee A Matin Chowdhury, Chairman, Board of Trustees, IUB and Prof.  M. Omar Rahman, VC, IUB delivered vital remarks during the opening ceremony.

Through her presentation, Shawpna Bhowmick highlighted the importance of dreaming big to achieve goals in life. Underscoring three major aspects, a. hard working mindset; b. "Never give up" attitude; and c. upholding "I can do it" posture, she stated that every single person has the potential to achieve mammoth goals. All one needs to do is believe in themselves and expand their horizon.

Afterwards, students enthusiastically participated in a lively Q&A session. The seminar ended with a vote of thanks by Mohammed Sohel Islam, Head of the Department of Marketing, School of Business, IUB. Sadia Haque, Sr. Lecturer of the Department conducted the programme. Trustees of IUB, Deans and Heads of different Schools and Departments, senior members of the faculty and administration and students attended the seminar.

Policy makers, intellectuals and magnates converge to discuss Fiscal Budget 2018-2019 at NSU

"Budget Talk 2018", a post-budget analysis for the fiscal year 2018-2019, organised by Young Economists' Forum (NSU YEF) took place at North South University (NSU) premises on July 11, 2018.

The session commenced with introductory speeches by chair of the session, Prof. Atiqul Islam, VC, NSU and special guest, MA Hashem, Chairman, BOT, NSU. Then Dr. Salma Begum, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics imparted a keynote presentation, offering a holistic overview of the approved fiscal budget.

The chief guest, Md. Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary, Internal Resources Division & Chairman, National Board of Revenue, next addressed the audience, providing technical insight into the aims with which the budget had been proposed.

Following this, the discussants addressed the audience successively. Mohiuddin Khan, Additional Secretary (Development), Secondary & Higher Education, Ministry of Education, illustrated the effects of the fiscal budget on the education sector.  Dr. Ashikur Rahman, Senior Economist, PRI, and Dr. Nazneen Ahmed, Senior Research Fellow, BIDS, provided an account of the impact of the budget on the financial sector; and Mominul Islam, Managing Director & CEO, IPDC Finance Ltd. detailed the changes that may occur in the corporate sector of Bangladesh.

The panel discussion concluded with a Q&A session, followed by a closing address by the special guest.

BUFT organises training session of BCCS and project closing ceremony

The training session of BCCS and closing ceremony of NICHE BGD/199 project organised by BUFT Center for CSR & Sustainability (BCCS) was held at BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT) on July 12, 2018. The project was aimed at establishing CSR, SRHR and innovative leadership in the RMG sector of Bangladesh. In this project BUFT is the implementation partner.

Muzaffar U. Siddique, founder Chairman of Board of Trustees of BUFT & Chief Patron of NICHE BGD/199 Project was present as chief guest. He spoke on achievements and activities of the project and expressed thanks and gratitude to project teams of the Netherlands. The ceremony was chaired by the VC of BUFT Prof. Dr. Nizamuddin Ahmed.

Pro-VC Prof. Dr. Engr. Ayub Nabi Khan; Director of MDF Training and Consultancy Herman Snelder; Director (South Asia) of MDF Training and Consultancy Ineke Ann Pitts gave their valuable speeches. They emphasised that this type of project is really important for a country like Bangladesh.

At the end of the programme, certificates were distributed among the trainees of the 3rd BCCS training on "Leadership for Sustainability" which was conducted by Ineke Ann Pitts, Director (South Asia) of MDF Training and Consultancy.

ULAB holds talk on "Scaling up Effective Policy Interventions"

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) hosted a talk by Prof. Mushfiq Mobarak, PhD, from Yale University, USA, on July 11, 2018, at its auditorium in Dhanmondi.

The talk was titled "Scaling up Effective Policy Interventions" where use of different policies to enhance effective interventions was discussed. The talk focused on development challenges for economic growth in rural areas.

A Development Economist, Prof. Mobarak is conducting a research on "Seasonal Deprivation and Seasonal Migration" at Rangpur and developing models of human behaviour with regard to economic development.

Faculty members of the ULAB School of Business were present along with the students. The vote of thanks of the programme was given by Prof. H M Jahirul Haque, VC of ULAB.

BRACU Debate Club organises "BRAC Genders 2018"

BRAC University Debate Club (BUDC) organised the 3rd edition of their flagship event, "BRAC Genders" from July 13-14, 2018. The two-day event saw 28 teams from different schools, colleges and universities participate in the open tournament that followed the British Parliamentary format.

With the tagline, "Thoughts have no gender", the tournament focused on the participation of female debaters and to develop their skills. Keeping this in mind, the organisers made it compulsory for the participating teams to have at least one female member.

Day 1 saw the tournament progress up to Round 4. On day 2, the pre-semis and semis of the tournament were conducted throughout the day followed by the grand finale. Rayaan Ibtesham Chowdhury and Adiba Arif from Institute of Business Administration (IBA, DU) were the winning team with Sourodip Paul, also from IBA, DU, announced as the Best Adjudicator of the tournament. Prizes were then distributed among the victorious debaters followed by dinner.