The general public often perceives the national budget as a complex maze of numbers and rigid economic jargon. Breaking this stereotype, the students of the Department of Banking and Insurance at the University of Chittagong have set a unique precedent by bringing the complexities of macroeconomics out of textbooks and making them easily understandable for ordinary citizens.
Held on Thursday, June 18, the day-long intellectual exhibition titled “CU Budget Fest 2026: Macro in Action” (Economics Through the Eyes of Youth) took place in a highly festive atmosphere at the Faculty of Business Administration premises. Organized by the 12th Batch of the department, the event featured 100 students spread across 10 thematic booths. Stepping out of their traditional roles, these students acted as “researchers” and “policy analysts,” using accessible language to explain how proposed national budget allocations for taxation, health, education, and mega-projects directly impact the daily lives of the general public as stated in the Press Release.
Insights from Academic Leaders
Prof. Dr. Tanvir Mohammad Hayder Arif, Director of the Research and Publication Cell and Professor of the Department of Banking and Insurance, delivered the welcome speech as the Chief Mentor of the event. He thanked the 12th Batch and the Convener, Md. Mufidur Rahman, for this innovative initiative, expressing hope that similar practical approaches would be adopted in other courses. He also affirmed the department’s continued commitment to contributing significantly to the nation’s policy-making and economic interests.
The Chief Guest, CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Dr. Mohammed Al-Amin, highly praised the government’s newly proposed budget, terming it the highest in history and highly logical compared to the past. Applauding the youth initiative, he thanked the 12th batch for the timely event and urged students to conduct similar research-based analyses on the budget allocated to Chittagong University by the government in the future.
Special Guest Prof. Dr. Mohammad Saleh Jahur, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, highlighted the budget’s positive aspects and eloquently explained how sector-wise allocations would further enrich Bangladesh’s economy, praising the students for their arrangement.
Guest of Honor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Alamgir, Chairman of the Marketing Department and Director of the Bureau of Business Research, emphasized that such research-oriented practices are essential at the highest echelons of academia and expressed his hope that they would continue. The event was also graced by Guest of Honor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Hasmat Ali, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC).
Bridging Theory and Reality
Outlining the program’s outcomes, Convener Md. Mufidur Rahman stated that the goal was not merely a traditional exhibition, but to make theoretical macroeconomics visible in everyday life. He noted that working with real data proves these students are ready for policy-making. This field-level practical experience will keep them a step ahead in the future corporate world while shaping them into conscious citizens.
The Session Chair, Md. Abu Bakkar Siddik, Chairman of the Department of Banking and Insurance, concluded the formal segment by expressing profound gratitude to the distinguished guests for dedicating their valuable time despite their busy schedules, marking it as a massive achievement for the event.
The event was seamlessly co-hosted by Lecturer Rabeya Akter and Convener Md. Mufidur Rahman. Other notable attendees from the department included Assistant Prof. Taslima Akther, Assistant Prof. Mohammad Rifat Rahman, Lecturer Dr. Mohammed Shahed Rajon, Lecturer Hasan Md. Rafi, and Lecturer Md. Noman Siddik.
Evaluating Excellence: Awards and Recognition
A rigorous evaluation was conducted by a distinguished panel of judges, comprising Associate Prof. Mohammad Shafiur Rahman Chowdhury (Department of Accounting), Assistant Prof. Sayeed Bin Kamal Chowdhury (Department of Development Studies), Md. Yousuf (Former Bangladesh Bank official and current Lecturer of Bangladesh Studies at CU), and Md. Shohag Mia (Bangladesh Bank official).
Based on the judges’ meticulous assessment and direct voting from the exhibition visitors, the best teams among the 10 thematic groups were awarded:
- Champion: Team Health and Welfare (Theme: Health Sector and Social Safety Net).
- Excellence in Poster Presentation: Team Agriculture (Theme: Agriculture and Food Security).
- Excellence in Video Presentation: Team Tax Hunters (Theme: Impact of Income Tax and VAT).
The successful distribution of awards marked the end of this festive event, which beautifully transformed theoretical knowledge into practical reality. This deeply analytical initiative by the youth stands as a milestone in the nation’s educational sector for fostering an economically conscious generation.
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