University students from all over the country gathered over the weekend for an intense and exciting training on leadership organised by Bangladesh Youth Leadership Centre (BYLC) in Chittagong.
The three-day-long BYLC boot camp, which started on Friday evening and ended yesterday, aimed to encourage the 93 participants to focus on leadership as a solution to many of Bangladesh’s current problems.
“I want something that will teach me how to imagine, and help me to observe,” said one of the participants from the crowd regarding his expectation.
“People only learn what they are ready to learn. You have to be ready for learning. Leadership can be learned,” said Ejaj Ahmed, the founder and president of BYLC, at the inaugural session on Saturday morning.
Among others, Wahid Malek, the managing editor of Dainik Azadi, and Neal Walker, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, spoke at the boot camp.
Besides speeches, speakers also arranged activities ranging from icebreaking to intense, hands-on sessions. An activity on negotiations on Day 2, which required the participants to mimic the society with each participant playing a different role: sellers, buyers, police, thieves, goons and ordinary people, was particularly popular.
On Day 2, participants also visited various factories and offices of companies such as Unilever Bangladesh Ltd, Standard Chartered Bank, AK Khan and Company Ltd, Brac, MM Ispahani Ltd and Western Marine Shipyard Ltd.
Participant Maisha Mowazzaim, who visited Brac’s education programme, said: “Though it did not look that exciting from the outside, once we went inside we realised how innovative the programme was. I do not think I have seen many other students who learn as enthusiastically as them.”
Sadia Afroze, who visited the Customs House, said: “I had a very wrong impression of the public sector but now I can relate it to my law background.”
On the third and final day, participants heard stories about BYLC’s journey and Ahmed’s personal story behind the founding of the organisation.
“Pain and frustration are the crucibles of leadership. Because from these come inspiration,” he said.
He added: “Our society has many who have the means but not the wish to work for society, and many who have the wish but not the means. So we have to find the right combination.”
The three-and-half day event was organised and hosted by various volunteers from both Dhaka and Chittagong, and sponsored by the US Embassy, RSRM and Green Delta Insurance Company, and many partners including Brac who hosted the whole team.
“The whole boot camp was eye-opening for me. After visiting the Customs House, I believe with my IBA education I can work in the public sector,” said Maruf Hassan.
At the end of the boot camp last evening the participants received their certificates.
