RISE HIGH BANGLADESH

The third year of the popular export idea contest Rise High Bangladesh, a joint initiative of The Daily Star and Crown Cement, was met with similar enthusiasm as the last two years. The continued success of the unique platform goes to show that the youth in the country are brimming with untapped potential and creativity.

This year a total of 150 teams from both public and private universities participated in the competition, coming up with a vast array of innovative ideas for sustainable business products and services.

Members of the jury panel were Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of the Standard Chartered Bangladesh; Syed Ferhat Anwar, professor and director of IBA at University of Dhaka; and Rubaba Dowla, president of non-profit organisation TiE Dhaka. Gowher Rizvi, international affairs adviser to the prime minister, graced the event as the chief guest, and René Holenstein, ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh was present at the event as the special guest.

The panel picked Dhaka University's IBA team The Wildlings as the winner who came up with the idea of producing mosquito repellent with hormones extracted from chicken skin. At second and third places respectively were Misfits from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) and Con Artists from North South University. The Wildings won the grand prize of a trip to Malaysia where they will be able to visit different industries to further develop their idea. Misfits, coming in at second place, won a monetary reward of Tk 1 lakh while Con Artists, at third place, received a cheque of Tk 50,000.

Furthermore, Professor AKM Fazle Hussain of Texas Tech University in the USA, won the Amazing Bangladeshi award, which was received by ASM Quasem, chairman of Newage Group, on his behalf. The prestigious award honours Bangladeshis living abroad who have contributed to upholding the country's image in the international arena.