BUBT Economics Olympiad 2026 to bring together over 250 college students

Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) will host the BUBT Economics Olympiad 2026 today (20 June), bringing together over 250 students from more than 100 colleges nationwide to compete in financial literacy, data analysis and policy evaluation.

The daylong inter-college competition will be held from 9am to 6pm at BUBT's permanent campus in Dhaka.

The Olympiad seeks to foster economics education and practical problem-solving skills among young learners.

The competition features multiple stages, with participants competing both individually and in teams throughout the event.

The initial round comprises a written aptitude test covering microeconomics, macroeconomics, financial literacy, investment fundamentals, logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude and current economic issues.

Top performers will progress to subsequent rounds before the leading nine contestants advance to the grand finale.

In the final round, participants will face a rapid-fire financial quiz and a session in which finalists defend their policy recommendations and analytical decisions before a panel of economists.

BUBT Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Shawkat Ali will inaugurate the Olympiad and deliver the opening remarks.

Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, executive director of the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development and former chief economist of Bangladesh Bank, will attend as a special guest and speak on "Economics for Inclusive Growth".

Prof Dr Syed Masud Husain, dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics at BUBT, will also attend as a special guest.

Professor Dr Md Mahmudul Hassan will chair the competition sessions.

A key segment of the event is the "National Budget Easy Learning" session, which is an interactive masterclass designed to help college students better understand Bangladesh's national budget.

Professor Dr Muhammad Mahboob Ali will present the keynote paper, "Budget Literacy for the Next Generation: From Numbers to Narratives".

Dr Md Abdur Rouf, professor of Economics at BUBT, will attend the session as chief guest and discuss how budget allocations translate into development outcomes in education, infrastructure and poverty reduction.

Students will also take part in a question-and-answer session with the panel to continue the discussion.

Prizes will be awarded in three academic streams—Arts, Commerce and Science—to recognise the interdisciplinary nature of economics.

The Arts stream will focus on economic storytelling, policy communication, socio-economic impact analysis and behavioural economics.

The Commerce stream will recognise trade strategy, entrepreneurial economics, business forecasting and marketing analytics.

The Science stream will reward skills in quantitative modelling, econometrics, data science applications and statistical computing.

Winners in each stream will receive trophies and certificates, as well as a 50% scholarship for BUBT's undergraduate or postgraduate economics programmes, while reinforcing the interdisciplinary nature of economics.

The overall champion will receive a grand trophy, a 100% tuition waiver for the BSc or MSc in Economics at BUBT, and an internship opportunity with InM or partner organisations.

In addition, the top nine finalists will receive one year of direct mentorship from BUBT faculty members and industry economists. All participants will receive certificates.

Professor Dr ABM Shawkat Ali said the Olympiad would help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application for young problem-solvers.

"The BUBT Economics Olympiad is exactly the kind of initiative Bangladesh needs today. It takes economics out of the textbook and places it into the hands of young problem-solvers who will shape our nation's future," he said.

Dr Mustafa K Mujeri said financial literacy and economic awareness have become essential life skills.

"I am delighted to see such a creative and rigorous platform for our youth. Financial literacy and economic awareness are not optional anymore—they are essential life skills. This Olympiad is a gift to the nation," he said.

Professor Dr Muhammad Mahboob Ali said students who learn to read data, question policies and propose solutions can become agents of change.

"When students learn to read data, question policies and propose solutions, they become not just graduates but change-makers. That is the spirit of this Olympiad," he said.

BUBT offers BSc (Honours) and MSc programmes in Economics, with emphasis on data analytics, econometrics, research methodology, mentoring and industry-oriented learning.

Registration for the Olympiad has closed following a strong response from colleges nationwide, organisers said.