CFA Society Bangladesh inauguarates fifth local level research challenge for university students

CFA Society Bangladesh has inaugurated Local CFA Institute Research Challenge 2020-21.

The 5th arrangement in Bangladesh picked BRAC Bank Limited, a leading private commercial bank, as the 'Subject Company' for Bangladesh-based participating teams, according to a press statement by the Scoiety.

Selim R F Hussain, the Managing Director & CEO, BRAC Bank, made a presentation to the participating students about Bank's development history, vision, purpose and the strategy going forward. Later Hussain and his team also responded to different questions from the students.

The SME focused bank started its operation in 2001 having an asset size of Tk44,776 crore as of September 30, 2020.

Each year, the CFA Institute Research Challenge rewards global participants, emerge from local champions, who demonstrate supreme analytical, valuation, report writing & presentation skills.

During this global competition, participants go through intensive training in financial analysis & professional ethics. Leading industry professionals mentor them so that they can gain real world experience.

With more than 6000 participants from 1150 universities & 95 countries, this research challenge is truly a global one.

CFA Society Bangladesh has arranged this local competition for the last four years and extensive response has been received from the university students during the earlier seasons.

In the local part of the competition, CFA Society Bangladesh conducts an initial screening round where participants from different universities of Bangladesh participate and compete to become the Top 10 to 12 teams in the competition.

At the local final level, 12 teams participating from the selected universities will present in depth analysis on BRAC Bank Limited – the subject company before the panel consisting of top industry practitioners.

There are four stages teams must successfully navigate through to be crowned winners the CFA Institute Research Challenge. They are local, sub-regional, regional, and global levels. At each stage, teams must present and defend their analysis to a panel of industry professionals.

Due to pandemic, all levels of this year's competitions will be hosted exclusively online.

'CFA Institute Research Challenge is a wonderful way of preparing students to understand real world business and gather in-depth knowledge about financial analysis. We are happy to contribute towards development of professionals in the area of investment analysis' said Md. Shaheen Iqbal, CFA, President CFA Society Bangladesh.  

The first prize of the Local CFA Institute Research Challenge is endowed with Tk350,000 and winners will receive special discount of $200 for the Level-1 CFA Exam at the time of registration to be held in August 2021. 

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion of ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community.

There are more than 162,000 CFA charterholders worldwide in 163 countries and regions. CFA Institute has nine offices worldwide and there are 154 local member societies.

CFA Society Bangladesh, a member society of CFA Institute, plays an important role in providing continuing education and networking opportunities to its members and contributing to the development of the financial service industry and the investment management profession in the country.

The society aims to achieve, foster and maintain high standards of ethics & professionalism for its members and stakeholders in the areas of investment analysis, portfolio management and related disciplines in Bangladesh.