Workshop on Islamic Banking and Finance held at UIU
The Institute of Islamic Banking, Finance and Economics (IIBFE) of United International University (UIU) and Prime Bank PLC jointly organized a workshop on Islamic Banking and Finance at UIU Campus yesterday.
The day-long workshop to raise awareness about Islamic Banking and Finance in general, its Hasana program in particular, and to engage students by sharing guidelines on career opportunities. This marked the first event of IIBFE, UIU since its recent inception.
More than 100 students participated in the workshop through online registration. During the workshop, the participating students learned about: the history of Islamic Banking and Finance over the past fifty years, beginning with the launch of the first full-fledged Islamic bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, in 1975; the development of Islamic Banking and ` the Bangladeshi context since the early 1980s; the concepts and applications of Shariah compliance; various Shariah-compliant modes and products; Prime Bank’s Hasana line of products; and career opportunities for students and the relevant preparations required.
The event began at 9 a.m. with opening remarks by the Founding Director of IIBFE, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq. He welcomed the guests and participants to this inaugural event of IIBFE, introducing the Institute and the context of its establishment at UIU. He underscored the great potential, especially in the context of the new Bangladesh and importance of fostering dynamic interaction between IIBFE and the Islamic finance industry to collaboratively build the desired human resource capacity.
In the opening session, the speakers included Mr. Nazeem Anwar Choudhury (Deputy Managing Director, Prime Bank), Dr. Muhammad Amir Hossain (Director, Statistics, Bangladesh Bank), and the Vice Chancellor of UIU, Prof. Dr. Md. Abul Kashem Miah. Mr. Nazeem acknowledged the steady growth of Islamic financial products and services in Bangladesh and highlighted Prime Bank’s pioneering role as the first Islamic Window in the country. Prof. Kashem Miah welcomed the participants and expressed optimism about IIBFE’s potential to address the gap in academic support for the Islamic Finance industry in Bangladesh, contrasting the country's situation with nations that have a robust Islamic Finance ecosystem.
Both Prof. Farooq and Prof. Kashem Miah thanked Prime Bank PLC for its proactive role in collaborating with IIBFE to enhance awareness and engage students in capacity-building initiatives for Bangladesh’s Islamic Banking and Finance sector.
The workshop comprised four sessions led by: Prof. Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq (Founding Director, IIBFE); Dr. Md. Mahabbat Hossain (Associate Professor, Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management); Mr. Syed Ibne Shariar (Head of Islamic Banking, Prime Bank PLC); and Mr. Zulqar Nayn (Executive Director on PRL and former Head of Bangladesh Bank Training Academy, Bangladesh Bank).
The workshop concluded with a panel discussion featuring the guest speakers and moderated by Prof. Farooq. Participating students received certificates of participation. Abir Hasan Jisan, a student from the Department of Economics, was specially recognized for his valuable contribution during the panel discussion.
