Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) organized its annual Career and Networking Day on May 20, 2026, drawing participation from over 60 organizations spanning a wide range of industries. The event, organized by the university’s Office of Career Guidance, Placement and Alumni Relations (CGP&AR), brought together employers and students for a full day of networking, resume collection, training sessions, and on-campus interviews.

The opening ceremony, held at the Multipurpose Hall, was attended by Prof. Dr. M. Tamim, Vice Chancellor; and Prof. Dr. Daniel W. Lund, Pro Vice Chancellor. Also present were deans, faculty members and industry representatives, including Mr. Shyamol B Das, Chief Executive Officer, upay; and Nishat Anwar, Head of Human Resources, City Bank PLC.

Prof. Tamim said, “Industry expectations have changed; they don’t have the time to train someone for a year or two. They want job-ready people. That’s why we have done a skill mapping, so that students have all the necessary skills and tools when they join a company.”

He also said, “Which kinds of jobs will be taken over by AI? The first to disappear will be the repetitive ones. If you are highly skilled only in repetitive work, your job may eventually be replaced, because AI was created not to innovate, but to perform repetitive tasks more efficiently than humans. Companies will look for efficiency and cost savings. That is why you must develop critical thinking skills – areas where innovation and human judgment are still essential.”

Drawing from his experience of sitting on interview boards, Prof. Lund said, “There is something about some candidates that you just know is right. Employers know what I am talking about, but students may not know it yet. Whatever that something is, find it within yourself – find the quality that makes you distinguishable and different from others. I request industry representatives to help students understand what that ‘something’ means. If you are a student, ask employers what that thing might be, and then find it and define it for yourself.”

Highlighting how his company is looking to make a difference in the fin-tech sector, Mr. Das told the students, “The first thing we do is recruit people like you, who know how the next generation is going to behave, and how technology can be used to make the best out of it. Everyone does not have to be a technologist; but you must learn to embrace technology.”

Ms. Anwar said, “Every time I come to a university, it reminds me of a simple truth: the future you [students] think about is not really what it is. You need to build your future, and you have to start early. Some of you, who are already ahead of others in terms of thinking, must have started that process a long time ago.”

Participating companies this year represented sectors including banking and financial services, FMCG, consulting, ICT, pharmaceuticals, and NGOs. Several organizations conducted walk-in interviews and skill development sessions throughout the day.

From the banking and financial institutions sector City Bank PLC, Bkash, Prime Bank, IDLC, Nagad, Bengal Commercial Bank, and upay set up stalls and interacted with the students. Participating companies from the FMCG sector included Kazi Farms, Square Food & Beverages Limited, ACI PLC, M. M. Ispahani Limited, Transcom Beverages Limited, and Transcom Electronics Limited. The pharmaceuticals industry was represented by Renata PLC, The ACME Laboratories LTD, Popular Pharmaceutical PLC, and Naafco Pharma PLC.

Other major sectors were represented among others by Meghna Group of Industries (MGI), BRAC, AkijBashir Group, Anwar Group of Industries, Aamra Companies, Bikroy.com, Grameen Healthcare Limited (Shukkhee), Karnaphuli Group, Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB), Safwan Bashundhara Global, ABC Limited, Rahimafrooz (Bangladesh) Limited, Confidence Batteries Limited, Confidence Cement Dhaka Limited, and Concord Group of Companies.

Mr. Mohammad Manjurul Haque Khan, Director of CGP&AR, said the annual event reflects IUB’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry expectations. Thanking the participating companies, he said, “This is a reflection of your commitment to creating future-ready talents, to our society and to our nation as whole.”

City Bank PLC and Nagad were the co-sponsors of the event, while Fresh was the beverage partner. News24, The Business Standard and Bonik Barta were the media partners. The inaugural session was moderated by Al-Zawad Islam Shadman, a student from the Department of Management Information Systems.

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