The Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Centre of the University of Dhaka has launched an inter-university idea competition under the Capacity Building of Universities in Bangladesh to Promote Youth Entrepreneurship (Creative Bangladesh) project, inviting students and alumni from seven public universities to submit innovative business ideas.

The announcement was made at the closing ceremony of the Strategic and Entrepreneurship Leadership (SEL) Summit, organised to mark the 10th anniversary of the Department of Organization Strategy and Leadership (OSL). The programme was held at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) Auditorium on Tuesday.

University of Dhaka Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A.B.M. Obaidul Islam attended the event as the chief guest, while Professor Dr Mahmud Osman Imam, dean of the Faculty of Business Studies, was present as the special guest. Associate Professor Md Rashedur Rahman, chairman of the OSL Department, presided over the programme.

Addressing the event, the vice-chancellor said the university was working to strengthen its position as a research-oriented, innovation-driven and internationally recognised institution of higher education. He emphasised the importance of developing leadership, creativity, innovative thinking and entrepreneurial skills among students, encouraging them to become job creators as well as job seekers.

He also congratulated the faculty members, students, officers and staff on the department’s 10th anniversary, noting that the OSL Department has established a strong reputation in leadership development, strategic management, research and entrepreneurship education.

The competition is being organised under the Creative Bangladesh project, which is being implemented through government-to-government (G2G) cooperation between the Government of Bangladesh and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s higher education ecosystem by promoting innovation, creativity and youth entrepreneurship.

Students and alumni from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh Medical University, Bangladesh Agricultural University, the University of Rajshahi, the University of Chittagong and Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) are eligible to participate.

Selected teams will be enrolled in a 320-hour Entrepreneurship Education Programme, where they will receive training, mentoring and technical support to help develop their ideas into sustainable business ventures.

Applications will remain open from 1 July to 14 July, while idea pitching sessions are scheduled for 22 and 23 July. Organisers encouraged students and alumni with innovative ideas in agriculture, healthcare, information technology, education, climate, energy, e-commerce, creative industries and other sectors to apply.

Application link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhX7Awu_6PJ2pSMi-a5WGXxBi6tJqmB4wtYpdc-r1rkC_xLQ/viewform?pli=1