Two-day IUB business conference ICEBTM 2025 opens at The Westin

The two-day International Conference on Economics, Business and Technology Management 2025 (ICEBTM 2025), organised by the School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE) of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), began on 14 November, 2025, at The Westin Dhaka.

Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of the Power and Participation Research Centre and chairman of Brac, inaugurated the event on Friday morning as the chief guest. He was joined by IUB Board of Trustees Chairman Didar A Husain, Vice-Chancellor Professor M Tamim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Daniel W Lund, Acting Dean of SBE Professor Raisul Awal Mahmood, and Conference General Chair Professor Md Mamun Habib. Syed Nasim Manzur, managing director of Apex Footwear Ltd, attended as the guest of honour.

Hossain Zillur Rahman said, "Exchange of knowledge is central to building what we call a common and shared understanding. The challenges being faced by Bangladesh are not unique. They are being faced across the world — across the Global South and also the developed world. There are commonalities, there are differences, and hopefully, this conference will come to grips with many of these specific challenges."

Didar A Husain said, "Vietnam and China are introducing artificial intelligence at the school level. They are ready for the Fifth Industrial Revolution, and we are only trying to graduate from the Third. So, there is a long way to go."

Professor M Tamim said, "We have seventy student papers in this conference, which is a great encouragement for us. We have representatives from more than twelve countries who have come here with ideas and will share their research and industry experience. That is great exposure for our students. We are hosting this conference for our students, so that through them, IUB can contribute to the advancement of this country and the world."

Professor Daniel W Lund said, "Events like this are fabulous. Those who have been academics for many years may have met someone ten, fifteen, even twenty years ago who is still a friend or colleague. Therefore, I would encourage all, especially students, to meet people."

Professor Raisul Awal Mahmood said, "Our expectation is that the participation, discussion, and sharing of experience will continue among us even after we return to our respective workplaces."

Professor Md Mamun Habib said, "We first proposed ICEBTM back in February 2020, aiming to hold the conference in January 2021. Because of the pandemic and other challenges, we had to reschedule it multiple times. I still remember that the theme, 'Sustainability-Focused Industry Trends in Global Research,' was finalised during that period. And now, after five years and nine months, we are finally here."

Syed Nasim Manzur said, "Events such as this are critical for Bangladesh's manufacturing sector. As we transition from a system based on labour arbitrage to manufacturing based on sustainability and core values, these industry–academia connections are critical for our future success. Bangladesh is privileged to have one of the youngest workforces, but creating the quality jobs needed for them is the challenge for modern industry."

Keynote papers were presented by Hossain Zillur Rahman; Professor Jonathan Liu of Manchester Business School, UK; and Professor Maniam Kaliannan of the University of Nottingham Malaysia. Sessions were chaired by Professor M Tamim; Professor Farid A Sobhani, vice-chancellor of Eastern University; and Dr Derek Westfall of Oregon State University, USA.

Industry leaders and academics also joined panel discussions titled "Industry Talk" and "Academia–Industry Discussion".

Academics participating included Dr Ferdous Saleheen of Sharjah Maritime Academy, UAE; IUBAT Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdur Rob; Chittagong Independent University Vice-Chancellor Professor MM Nurul Absar; AIUB Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Abdur Rahman; and Professor Rajah Rasiah of Malaysia.

Industry representatives included Syed Nasim Manzur; Amer Salim, director of Knit Asia Ltd and Aurum Sweater Ltd; AKM Shahnawaj, managing director (current charge), Dhaka Bank PLC; Niaz Rahim, group director of Rahimafrooz; Dr Ahmad Ahsan, director of the Policy Research Institute; Mirza Sajeeb Rayhan, AmCham representative; Kamran T Rahman, president of MCCI; Dr Md Mosharraf Hossain of icddr,b; Dr Ben Bvepfepfe of CITL (UK); and Emeka Henry Egson (Canada).

Two parallel sessions featured eighty research paper presentations by faculty members, students, and scholars from local and international institutions. A PhD colloquium and a paper producing workshop were also conducted by international academics, who offered guidance on PhD journeys and publishing.

More than three hundred academics, researchers, students, and industry professionals from over twelve countries — including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, India, Poland, Thailand, and the UAE — are participating in ICEBTM 2025.

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