A platform to upstage future leaders in banking sector

The grand finale of the second edition of Woori Bank Idea Fest 2019 was held on December 19 at Amari Hotel at Gulshan of Dhaka. Woori Bank Idea Fest 2019 launched this platform last year with a belief that university education-- both graduation and post-graduation -- exposes students to new research and technology which can assist them to develop and implement new business ideas in this competitive market. This year the competition had four distinct rounds starting from inauguration and brainstorming, idea submission, idea screening and selection and the grand finale.

Galib Nakib Rahman, a student of the Institute of Business Administration at the University of Dhaka, has secured the top prize of the Woori Idea Fest 2019.The winning idea was to build the technology which live streams any event across the world, be it any live sports in a stadium, an opera, or any concert, with all the five senses. Sagar Majumder, a student of BRAC University, stood second, and Sanjana Haque, of North South University, stood third at the second edition of the competition. The first prize winner, the first runner-up and the second runner-up were awarded Tk 100,000, Tk 50,000 and Tk 20,000 respectively.

The other ideas included empowering the artisans through making use of existing tech hubs throughout the country, introducing improved supply chain hubs and cutting down middlemen so that the major share of profits from sales find their way to the artisans themselves. Another innovative idea was to build an app-based platform, a game with age-based levels, making girls educated and aware of what to do when facing harassment and other kinds of abuse, and teaching the things that society currently considers taboo. Top five participants will also get opportunity of doing internship with Woori Bank, Bangladesh.

Judges of the contest were Sohel Mostafa, associate professor, Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), Mahmud Hossain, chief risk officer, Woori Bank. The chief guest was Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, director general of BIBM. Guest speaker was Mashahed Hossain Shimanto, the winner of Woori Bank Idea Fest 2018.

"We will incorporate all universities from next year to hunt talented and innovative future corporate leaders," said Jeong Ho Choi, general manager of Woori Bank, adding that the programme would be unique in generating innovative ideas and promote entrepreneurship.

Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, director general of BIBM, said the ideas of students would play an important role for them and entrepreneurs in the future. The younger generation is optimistic and innovative and they can change society through their new ideas, said Akhtaruzzaman, who handed over the prizes.

Woori Bank aims to continue the idea fest programme to stimulate the imaginative and innovative ideas of the students in order to contribute to making future corporate and business leaders. Set up in South Korea in 1899, Woori Bank is the largest commercial bank in South Korea. It started operations in Bangladesh in 1996. 

Raiysa Zuwairiyah is a second-year student of BBA programme at IBA, University of Dhaka.
She can be reached at [email protected]