Eighty employers participated in BRAC University’s two-day National Career Fair 2026, offering around 500 students from universities across Bangladesh opportunities to meet recruiters, explore vacancies and receive career advice.

The fair concluded yesterday (13 October) and was organised by the Office of Career Services and Alumni Relations as part of the university’s 25th anniversary celebrations, according to the press release.

Participating employers included Nestlé, bKash, BRAC Bank, City Bank PLC, Meghna Group of Industries and Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills.

Students submitted CVs, attended interviews and interacted directly with employers during the event.

“A career is like a marathon; there are no shortcuts. You must have patience,” said Masud Khan, a member of BRAC University’s Board of Trustees, who attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest.

He emphasised excellence, integrity, responsibility and continuous skills development. He advised jobseekers to research prospective employers, understand their needs and highlight their distinctive qualifications during interviews.

“The knowledge acquired in educational institutions forms our foundation. The knowledge found in textbooks and research publications stems from real-world experiences; thus, what we have learned constitutes the basis of our knowledge,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar.

“We discuss many skills, but to me, human skills are the most important. This is because, without these skills, we cannot properly value others, and empathy would be lost,” he added.

At a panel discussion on building a career with impact, Rupali Haque Chowdhury, an independent director of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, illustrated the importance of finding purpose in everyday work.

She recounted how a monk found meaning in washing plates each morning by considering how keeping them clean helped others stay healthy.

BRAC University Treasurer Ariful Islam urged students to learn from challenges, disappointments and rejection, saying such experiences could strengthen them.

He also highlighted the transition from managing oneself to managing teams and others as a critical stage in professional development.

Shaharear Sayeed, director of human resources at BRAC University, moderated the discussion.

He encouraged students to keep learning new skills and ways of working with artificial intelligence to remain relevant, while noting the difficulty of predicting workplace changes even two, three or five years ahead.

“Before joining a bank, it is crucial to consider the institution’s corporate governance and overall work environment,” said Masrur Arefin, managing director and CEO of City Bank, during a session on the fair’s final day.

He said slowing GDP growth and rising inflation made it important for students to act responsibly towards themselves and their parents.

Other speakers included Dr David Dowland, registrar of BRAC University; Md Ashanur Rahman, deputy managing director, chief economist and country business manager of City Bank; and Rizwan Dawood Shams, managing director and CEO of IPDC Finance.

Sharmin Sultan, chief people and culture officer; Shah Ali Newaz Topu, chief solutions architect at BRAC IT Services Limited; Taufica Erfan, director of human resources and operations at IHH Healthcare; and Shahriar Rahman, head of human resources at Premium Sweets, also shared their expertise in sessions during the fair.