The grand finale of “SQ Group Presents Breaking Brand 2026, Powered by Walton and Pubali Bank PLC” was held at Le Méridien Dhaka on 26 June, bringing together young marketers, corporate leaders and academics.

Organised by the Institute of Business Administration, Jahangirnagar University, the competition featured six finalist teams that presented their marketing strategies, creative ideas and analytical work before the final-round judges.

The competition, which offered a prize pool of Tk2.5 lakh, drew participation from more than 1,500 students across 415 teams from universities across the country. A total of 31 teams advanced to the second round, from which the top six secured places in the grand finale.

The final-round judging panel included Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, Director and Filmmaker; Sajid Mahbub, MCIM, Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Editor of Bangladesh Brand Forum; Salahuddin Ahmed Tariq, Chief Marketing Officer of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited; Yeasin Sohag, Human Resources Lead of Coca-Cola CCI Bangladesh; and Md Iftekhar Alam, Deputy Director of Brand and Market Communications at Grameenphone.

The event was attended by Professor Dr Md Shamsul Alam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of Jahangirnagar University; Professor Dr Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Jahangirnagar University; Professor Dr Shariful Huda, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr AKM Rashidul Alam, Proctor; Professor Dr Nahrin Islam of the Department of Geography; and Professor Dr Nurul Islam, Vice Chancellor of Central University.

Corporate leaders attending the event included Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mutual Trust Bank PLC; Nasimul Baten, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DBH Finance Corporation Limited; Hasan Majhar, Managing Director of Colgate; and Md Kamrul Hasan, President of Jahangirnagar Alumni Association of Business Students and Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of ACI Consumer Brands.

Managing directors, chief executive officers and senior executives from other organisations were also present.

The event was held under the overall supervision of Professor Dr Ireen Akhter, Director of the Institute of Business Administration, Jahangirnagar University, and Assistant Professor SMA Moudud Ahmed, Moderator of the IBA-JU Business Club.

The IBA-JU Business Club has been organising the competition for the past three years. The final-year Bachelor of Business Administration student Md Mazidul Haque Farabi, President of the IBA-JU Business Club, and his team coordinated the event.

Organisers said the final round provided a platform for students to showcase their marketing skills before industry experts and corporate leaders.