BRACU EXPRESS an independent monthly publication by BRAC University students Fall XVII | Vol. II | Issue IV
December 3 | 2017
‘Get Up Speak Up’ goes to RS in front of the audience by inviting a Muslim, Hindu, and
Nishat Shahara
Christian students from BRAC University to share their
stories and converse.
Journalist
The first guest speaker excited the audience’s attention
November 13th at BRAC University, Savar campus,
when he admitted to empathizing with violent jihadist
a workshop was held on religious intolerance. Titled
ideas about an Islamic caliphate. His story about how
“Matters of Faith”, the seminar was conducted by Get
isolation, friendlessness, and deep unhappiness drove
Up Speak Up to bring the conversation about religious
him to find refuge in religion and the promises of jihadism
discrimination, and “an alienated generation” turning to
sparked empathy and interest among students.
religious extremism and militancy, to the generation being discussed.
The
speakers
shared
stories
about
interfaith
prejudices. But as members of a ‘civil society’, our common
relationships (what does a Hindu boy do when he loves a
Formed by a group of BRACU students, the Get Up
response to news of such horrific incidents is to continue
Muslim girl?), converting religions, and being evicted from
Speak Up initiative is an online campaign that aims to raise
scrolling through our feed. How should we change our
apartments for being a minority.
awareness about interfaith dialogue and the possibilities
apathetic responses to problems of such tragic and wide
offered by a space for conversation on religion.
breadth? Can we?
The event concluded with an incredibly engaging Q&A session. Members from the audience brought up poignant
The speakers began by pointing out examples
The workshop pointed out how we often ignore
points on the institutionalization of Muslim ideology in
of minorities in Bangladesh facing violent religious
problematic posts online, which reveal much about the
Bangladesh, steps open to an individual, and the need for
intolerance: the torture of Hindus before the 2015
inherent beliefs we hold as a people. The second part
more of these spaces. Zareef Tajwar Karim, CFO of the
elections, the land grabbing and displacement affecting
of the session invited guest speakers to speak on their
campaign, said, “The responses we got from the audience
Buddhist communities, forced migration of Santal villages.
personal experiences of faith-based bigotry. The campaign
were smart and incisive. It showed that the work we were
Minorities are inevitably the victims of ingrained phobic
attempted to create a space for interfaith dialogue right
doing was actually relevant and necessary.”
Incubation Program, HULT Prize 2018
BeF Presents Corporate League Marium N Oishee Journalist
The second phase of the HULT Prize event took place at BRAC University on the 8th of
with 5 finalists competing
November.
spectacular
Hossain, a graduate of BRAC Business School, who spoke on social entrepreneurship. He
for
consisted
recounted one of his trips to the rural areas of
Mamoon,
Bangladesh, where he witnessed how difficult
Assistant Professor at BRAC
it was for the poor families to receive quality
Business
Fardina
education for their children. His experience
President
motivated him to open a school in Syedpur,
ever national business competition, creating a milestone in clubbing history. With participants from a total of 35 universities from throughout the country, the competition was conducted in three rounds. A 100 groups (of 3 members) were selected to take part in the initial round, which commenced on line the 27th of October till October 30th. The second round, held on November 2nd, consisted of 50 teams solving strategic
cases
in
front
of
a
distinguished panel of established
Hafiz,
some
The first speaker at the event was Md Adnan
presentations. The jury panel this
of
organized the institution’s first
Journalist
was held on November 7th,
through
Economics Forum (BeF) recently
business personnel. The finale
in an intense battle of words
BRAC University’s Business and
Najibah Rahman
round
Mahreen School,
Assistant
Vice
and Branch Manager, BRAC Bank
Bangladesh, despite countless inhibitions.
Ava also stated that this year’s HULT Prize
and Syed Najmus Saquib, Dy.
After a Q&A session, the session moved on.
at BRACU is the most competitive, since there
Senior Vice President, Green Delta
The floor was taken by Mirza Tanzim Sami,
were over 65 teams which registered initially.
Insurance and Marketing Advisor,
Campus Director of HULT Prize at BRACU, who
From there, a top 50 was selected, and at
Sylhet Sixers.
talked about pitches and time management in
present, there are 26 finalists. This time, over
The champion of the event
presentations. He reiterated the five criteria for
25 teams registered from Residential Semester
Team
Duo-Chrome
from
judging: the team, the specific problem, solution
itself, greater than any number of teams in the
Bangladesh
University
of
with the exact details of how implementation
past.
was
Professionals (BUP) who received Tk 50,000 as prize money, with
would work, and how feasible the idea is.
Ava concluded: “The definition of success
Following her former teammate, Tasneem
is different for all of us. Some of us want fully
BRAC
Omar Ava, Campus Director of HULT Prize at
funded trips to see the world, some of us want
University as the first runner-
BRACU, highlighted the important do’s and
to have a strong resume, some of want to do
up, who received Tk 30,000 and
don’ts. She said, “The incubation program is
social good and make impacts. I think HULT
finally, Team Shoelace from BUP as
something newly designed for this year’s HULT
Prize is the answer to all of these! So, if you’re
the second runner-up, winning Tk
Prize at BRACU. Teams got to meet beneficiaries
still wondering if you should join HULT Prize,
20,000 as reward.
from slums right at BRACU.”
there’s one answer: just do it!”
Team
Breakeven
from