(Panel Discussion Session)

On 1–2 September 2026, the School of Business (SoB), Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), in collaboration with JCI Dhaka North, successfully organized bKash Presents AUST Career Launch 2026: Job & Internship Fair. The two-day event was organized to provide students with meaningful exposure to the corporate and entrepreneurial landscape and to create a platform for connecting academic learning with professional opportunities. Bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, recruiters, and students, the event focused on career development, internship and employment opportunities, professional readiness, entrepreneurship, industry engagement, and the evolving future of work.

The event commenced with a series of insightful sessions designed to help students understand the transition from university life to professional careers. The session titled “Bridge between Job & Entrepreneurship,” conducted by Antu Kareem, Managing Director, Kidlon Bangladesh, provided students with perspectives on navigating the two major pathways of employment and entrepreneurship. The session encouraged students to explore different possibilities in shaping their professional journeys and to understand the opportunities and challenges associated with both career paths. This was followed by “Beyond the Degree: Are You Corporate Ready?”, delivered by Quazi M. Ahmed, Managing Partner, Quazi Consultants, which focused on the importance of going beyond academic qualifications and developing the professional competencies, mindset, and readiness required to enter and succeed in the corporate environment.

The learning continued with “Campus to Career,” where G.M. Kamrul Hassan, CEO, Igloo Ice Cream, shared practical perspectives on transitioning from university life to professional life. The session provided students with valuable insights into workplace expectations and the importance of preparing themselves for the responsibilities and challenges associated with beginning a professional career. Following this, the session “What is JCI,” featuring Shafiuddin Ala Raju, Local President, JCI Dhaka North, and Sumaiya Haque, Immediate Past Local President, JCI Dhaka North, introduced students to JCI and highlighted the opportunities associated with professional networking, leadership, personal development, and community engagement.

A major highlight of the first day was the panel discussion titled “Careers in the Age of AI,” moderated by Shahriar Mahmood, EVP & HoD, Employer Branding & Recruitment, bKash. The panel brought together Ali Ahmmed, Chief Commercial Officer, bKash; Syed Javed Noor, AMD & Head of Business, IDLC; Md. Shafquat Hossain, DMD & Head of Retail, MTB; M. Khorshed Anowar, DMD & Head of Retail, EBL; and A. M. M. Moyen Uddin, DMD & COO, Dhaka Bank. The discussion explored the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence on careers, workplaces, and professional practices. The panelists emphasized the importance of AI literacy, adaptability, continuous learning, critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration, and human judgment in preparing for an increasingly technology-driven professional environment. The discussion provided students with a broader understanding of how emerging technologies are reshaping traditional career pathways and the skills required to remain relevant in the future workplace. The first day continued with “The Entrepreneurial Mindset,” delivered by Mostafiz Rimaz Khan, Managing Director, Tecognize Solutions Limited, which provided students with insights into developing an entrepreneurial approach toward opportunities, challenges, and problem-solving. The session was followed by “Building the Future of Business Operations with OSS Nexus Limited,” conducted by Rifat Mahmud, Founder & CEO, OSS Nexus Limited. The session introduced students to perspectives on modern business operations and the role of technology and innovation in shaping the future of organizations. Together, the first-day sessions provided students with a comprehensive view of career opportunities, corporate readiness, entrepreneurship, professional networking, and the changing nature of work.

The second day of the event focused on professional development, workplace readiness, corporate expectations, financial awareness, and entrepreneurship. The day began with “Professional Grooming & Workplace Readiness,” conducted by Farhana Muqtadir, Senior Corporate Trainer, Quazi Consultants. The session provided practical guidance on professional presentation, workplace behavior, confidence, and preparedness, helping students better understand how to navigate the professional environment effectively.

A key attraction of the second day was the HR panel discussion “Corporate Sense,” moderated by Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Director, Communications & Partnerships, QUAZI Consultants. The panel featured Iftakhairul Alam Shehab, Country HR Head, ZTE Corporation Bangladesh Ltd.; Sharmin Sultan, Chief People & Culture Officer, BRAC IT; and Monjurul Alam, Former Head of HR, Eastern Bank PLC. The discussion explored the importance of developing Corporate Sense and understanding the professional ecosystem. The speakers shared practical perspectives on professional mindset, ecosystem awareness, future-readiness, ownership, accountability, purposeful networking, adaptability, AI capability, continuous learning, credibility, and long-term career growth. The session helped students understand that professional success extends beyond technical and academic qualifications and also depends on professional conduct, responsibility, adaptability, continuous development, and the ability to build meaningful professional relationships.

The learning experience continued with “Financial Management in the Early Stages of Your Career,” delivered by Imran Kadir, Head of Sales & Marketing, The Daily Star. The session provided students with valuable perspectives on developing financial awareness and making responsible financial decisions during the early stages of their professional journeys. This was followed by “Zero to Entrepreneurship,” delivered by Abul Kalam Hasan Tagar, Chairman, Halima Group, which offered students an inspiring perspective on entrepreneurship and the journey of transforming ambition into meaningful professional pursuits. The session encouraged students to consider entrepreneurship as a pathway that requires initiative, determination, resilience, and the ability to transform ideas into action.

The event also featured “Skip the Line,” conducted by Amin Hannan Chowdhury, which provided a refreshing and engaging experience for the participants. The interactive segment created a lively atmosphere and allowed students to take a break from the formal learning sessions while engaging in a different and enjoyable aspect of the event. This addition contributed to creating a balanced experience that combined professional learning with interaction and engagement. Throughout the two-day event, students had the opportunity to interact with experienced professionals, corporate representatives, entrepreneurs, recruiters, and industry leaders. These interactions enabled participants to gain firsthand perspectives on career development, corporate expectations, entrepreneurship, professional skills, emerging technologies, and workplace practices. The Job & Internship Fair also provided students with an opportunity to explore potential career and internship pathways and understand the competencies required to prepare for the professional world. 

The event served as an important platform for strengthening the connection between academia and industry. By bringing students and professionals together, AUST Career Launch 2026 enabled participants to connect theoretical knowledge with practical perspectives and gain a clearer understanding of the professional environment. The diverse range of sessions and discussions contributed to developing students’ professional awareness, critical thinking, adaptability, communication skills, entrepreneurial perspective, and understanding of the evolving demands of the workplace. The successful organization of bKash Presents AUST Career Launch 2026: Job & Internship Fair reflects the commitment of the School of Business, AUST to providing students with industry-oriented and experiential learning opportunities. The event created a meaningful platform for career exploration, professional interaction, industry engagement, and knowledge sharing, while encouraging students to prepare themselves for the opportunities and challenges of the future workplace. The event concluded with sincere appreciation to all the speakers, panelists, moderators, university leadership, faculty members, corporate representatives, participating organizations, partners, volunteers, and everyone involved for contributing their time, knowledge, experience, and support. Their collective contribution made AUST Career Launch 2026 a meaningful learning and networking experience for the AUST community and further strengthened the connection between students and the professional world.