Ceremony

A Flying Start

Sarah Z H

To encourage more and more graduates to consider starting up in business and to widen the entrepreneurial spirit, BRAC University Business Club, BIZ BEE launched the first volume of 'Vision', their very own business magazine. The primary aim of this magazine is to create an opportunity for the students to experience business first-hand. The readers can pick up hints as to what goes on in the market and learn more about business, reading this magazine. It will research organisations and provide advance executive education that can help students expand their network in the current economic environment. Identifying specific skill sets on the part of the readers and putting them to good use and making the most of what we see, hear and read is the focus of this magazine.

Mahbubul Mokaddem Akash, Professor of Economics Department, Dhaka University, in his message to the members of BRAC University Business Club, BIZ BEE, says young minds dream of the impossible, but they should be mindful of the pragmatics too. He could not attend the launching ceremony of 'Vision' for unavoidable reasons.

The evening was closer to the launch of a dream, something for the guests to realise how hard these students had really worked to make the inauguration possible. The first four months before inception was just an idea but in time the club had a finished product in hand, a real business magazine. This grand inaugural ceremony was arranged at All Community Club Limited on December 8 in great spirits. The program started at 6 pm with the welcome speech of the advisor of BRAC University Business Club, Jabir Al Mursalin. He referred to this magazine as a reflection of the month long toils of the BIZ BEE team, which recorded the student's success.

Ishfaq Ilahi Chaudhury, Registrar, BRAC University was the chief guest of the event. He said, "Today's business world is a very competitive one and for survival, one should be very innovative and this magazine is a notable initiative by the members of BRAC University Business Club.'' Vice Chancellor of State University, Ifterkhar Gani Chawdhury, former director of BRAC Business School also attended the programme and appreciated the young members of BIZ BEE for their role in printing a university business magazine. Registrar of the Independent University of Bangladesh Tanvir A Khan, Lecturer of North South University Faisal Chawdhury and faculty members of BRAC University were also present as special guests. The inauguration programme was followed by a concert.

The launching ceremony of the BIZ BEE 'Vision' Magazine. courtesy:bracu

The main story of 'Vision' is on business in Bangladesh for young entrepreneurs titled "Small Business for Bigger Bangladesh" offering views of various business personalities. This article covers businesses, which do not need a huge sum of capital but are suitable for the beginners and is designed to inspire the students to bring about revolutionary changes in the business scene of Bangladesh. Another article in the magazine titled "SAARC; The Land of Enormous Business Opportunities" talks about having one single state instead of eight different countries in SAARC, a scheme expected to help the people of SAARC voice their ideas worldwide on negotiation and trade-related issues diminishing political disagreement among them and fetch better foreign investment.

Interviews of Mahbubul Mokaddem Akash, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka and Air Cdre (Retd) Ishfaq Ilahi Chaudhury NDC, PSC, Registrar, BRAC University are also included in this article. Other contents to look out for in the magazine are "Advent of the Guardian Angel_ social business", Adventure Land_ revolution of tourism in Bangladesh", "Root Biz of Bangla_ agriculture", " Is Share Market Going in the right Direction", "Lucrative Business for Young Entrepreneurs", " Happening around the Globe" and many more. There is a biography on Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, "A Beautiful Wits" where an up-close story of his life has been revealed. Taking entertainment into account and to add a touch of comic to the magazine, business cartoons and puzzles are also there.

BIZ BEE plans to publish 'Vision' after every six months and the magazine will not be for sale. It will be distributed among all the universities and corporate houses of Bangladesh. The organisations supporting the 1st issue of 'Vision' were Aarong, Basic Real Estate Ltd, Buildtrade Group, Al-Hasan Jewelers ltd and United Commercial Bank ltd. This issue will also be distributed among the participants of South Asian Universities Youth Festival -05 which is going to be organised in Bangladesh hosted by BRAC University.