The Department of Business Administration in Finance and Banking held its Annual Seminar on 2 November 2026 at Shadhinata Auditorium, BUP. The seminar was titled ‘Financing Bangladesh's Economic Transformation: Investment, Capital Markets, and Sustainable Development’. This year, the seminar was enriched by experts from industry and economic advisory. Dr. M Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, delivered the keynote address. Mr. Shafee Bin Alam, Senior Manager, MetLife Bangladesh, delivered a panel presentation. The seminar also featured a panel presentation by Md. Yousuf Ahammed, Assistant Professor, Department of Finance and Banking, who shared the academic perspective. The honourable Dean of Faculty of Business Studies (FBS), Brigadier General Md Aminul Akbar Khan, AWC, AFWC, PSC, MPhil, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The seminar began with a presentation by Arafin Ahmed, a final-year student of the Department of Finance and Banking. He shared his understanding of Bangladesh’s current economic situation and posed a question to the experts about the future of Bangladeshi graduates in the current circumstances. Afterwards, Assistant Professor Md. Yousuf Ahammed provided an academic perspective on the seminar topic. Mr. Yousuf highlighted the transformation of Adamjee Jute Mills into Adamjee Export Processing Zone (Adamjee EPZ). He mentioned that such transformations are possible, provided that private sector credit growth increases in the future.

The keynote speaker, Dr. M Masrur Reaz, discussed the avenues and strategies Bangladesh could pursue to transform its economy. He outlined several strengths of the Bangladesh economy, such as a fast-growing consumer market, cost competitiveness, demographic dividends, and economic zones. He also highlighted priority investment sectors, including agribusiness, the digital economy, and pharmaceuticals and APIs. However, he emphasized that loans from the banking system alone are not enough to support Bangladesh’s economic ambitions, noting that the banking system is already under stress due to non-performing loans and maturity mismatches.

Mr. Shafee Bin Alam's panel presentation raised similar concerns about the lack of private sector credit growth and financing. He noted that 88% of Bangladesh’s financial sector assets are held by banks. He also pointed out that banks have to use short-term funds to finance long-term loans. Consequently, corporate bonds could be a better alternative for financing Bangladesh’s economic transformation. However, the panel speaker also noted that there are only 16 listed corporate bonds on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

The seminar concluded with a panel discussion and an open question-and-answer session. The speakers answered questions regarding the immediate priorities for Bangladesh’s economy, the contributions the younger generation could make, and how non-performing loans could be recovered. The panel discussion was moderated by Associate Professor Dr. M. Shahin Sarwar. The seminar ended with a concluding speech by the Chief Guest, Brigadier General Md Aminul Akbar Khan, AWC, AFWC, PSC, MPhil.