Success Story of a Leader – Shykh Seraj

Rezwanur Rahim

BIZ BEE (BRAC University Business Club) organized a seminar on agriculture business of Bangladesh, in which chief guest of the seminar was Shykh Seraj, on March 10th, 2010. Shykh Seraj is an eminent journalist and agriculture development activist, and an Ashoka fellow, who was the first person to use media as the educational tools in Bangladesh since 1980s. Shykh Seraj talked concerning the recent development and problems in agro based business of Bangladesh, the problems the farmers are facing and its impact in our economy. He stated that the country like Bangladesh could only be developed if the farmer’s situation is improved.

Shykh Seraj receiving crest from Dr. Md. Golam Samdani Farik.

Shykh Seraj and Dr. Md. Golam Samdani Fakir with the members of BIZ BEE

Bangladesh is primarily an agrarian economy. It is very necessary for the university-going students to know the possibilities and opportunities of agro-business to make the country a better place to live. The seminar ended with a lively Q&A session. Professor Md. Golam Samdani Fakir, Pro-Vice Chancellor of BRAC University, was also present.

Face 2 Face

Rezwanur Rahim

BRAC University Business Club (BIZ BEE) organized a fresher orientation program, which is known as ‘FACE 2 FACE’, for the recruitment of the members in the club on 9^th February, 2010 in BRAC University Indoor Games Room. This program was done only for the fresher, who have enrolled in Spring 2010 semester, to entertain them and get them familiar with the world of BIZ BEE.

Before this program an interview session was held on Thursday, 4th February 2010 to meet the interested fresher willing to join and work with BIZ BEE. There was a great turn up in the interview session; they were explained the type of works BIZ BEE does and what will be their possible work when they join BIZ BEE.

The program started with an introductory speech by the president of BIZ BEE, Ms. Shamminaz Polen about the past, present and future of BIZ BEE. The entire program was designed to entertain the students therefore many funny games, songs and slide show were shown. There was a great response from the audience about the program. This is the second time BIZ BEE is organizing FACE 2 FACE and it will continue the tradition in future.

The program ended with the song “Amar vaier raktay rangano ekushay February” (21st February, the day stained with my brothers' blood) to pay respect to Language Movement Martyrs. It was followed by refreshment for the students.

A mind-blowing tour to Kuakatta

@ Kuakatta beach

Rezwanur Rahim

On the evening of Wednesday, the 13th of January, we set out on a 12 hour journey towards the extreme southern region of Bangladesh for a 3 days long study tour at KUAKATA. The purpose of the visit was to get knowledge about the fishing sector of Bangladesh and also the prospect of tourism and learn about the people who are related with these activities in Kuakata, Patuakhali. BIZ BEE, BRAC University Business Club, organized the study tour to Kaukata for its members.

We the BIZ BEEs started our journey at on 13th January around 8 o’clock; it was an overnight journey and took nearly 12 hours to reach our destination. We crossed six ferries and the road to KUAKATA was adventurous. After reaching there, we got freshened up at ‘KUAKATTA GUEST HOUSE’; we could not wait any longer to go to the seaside. It has a wide sandy beach, which affords one the unique opportunity of watching both the sunrise and the sunset. There were hardly any tourists at that time. We learned that locally kuakatta is known as Sagar kannya, which means daughter of the sea.

After taking endless photographs of the sea beach and the beautiful surroundings, we moved on with our main purpose to visit the shrimp factories. On the way to factory, where we travelled by the local vehicle called tom tom, we visited the 200 years old Rakhaine temple. Outside of the temple was drab and dull. However, inside were wide-eyed 35 feet tall Rakhaine idol. We even visited the Rakhine tribal families, which were situated nearby. They live their life by producing Rakhine cloths and selling them to the tourist.

Inside the Rakhaine Temple

The shrimp factories were usually small, however few thousand people are directly involve in the fishing activities. Mostly women and children are involved in processing of the shrimp where men go to the deep sea to catch the shrimp. It was there main occupation and only way to live their life. The shrimp industries are not as strong as it was before. The cyclones weaken the shrimp industries in kuakatta.

The next day, we went out early to see the sunrise, which was magnificently beautiful. This time the shore was full of tourist. Later on that day, we had a friendly football match among us on the sea beach. It was fun and extremely amusing. After the match and swimming in the salty sea, we moved on to visit the ice factory that was based on the fishing industry. The weather was already cold and chilly and the ice made us even colder. The hardworking people start their work early in the morning even when the sun did not come out properly.

On the way back, we visited the area famous for dry fish. Almost all kind of fishes are dried under the sun. We talked with few people related with dry fish processing. We were courteously explained how everything is done. At the evening, we visited the hundred years old wells, known as Kua and Kata. The name Kuakatta was originated from those wells.

The day and journey ended very quickly, we again went to the beach see another mind-blowing scene, the sunset. The lodging at and food at Kuakatta Guest House was excellent and very tasty. We put on few pounds on staying there.

We left Kuakatta on the following Saturday with great experiences, ideas and positive views. The entire tour was refreshing from the monotonous city life. BIZ BEE is planning to organize such kind of tours in the near future.