DU Finance Team Wins CFA Institute Research Challenge in Bangladesh 2023-24
The Department of Finance of the University of Dhaka has championed the CFA Institute Research Challenge 2023-24 making it the fifth consecutive win of this prestigious equity valuation competition for the department.
CFA Society Bangladesh announced the team Bear Hug comprising Faiyaz Abrar Richi, Rubaiya Zaman Nishi, Samen Yasar, Sharif Abdullah, and Mohammad Shish Ahsan as the champion of the CFA Institute Research Challenge 2023-24 local final. The winning team will now compete against other South Asian countries as they advance to the Sub-Regional round representing Bangladesh.
Along with the champion team, another team The Dire-Wolves also hailing from DU Finance secured the 1st Runner-up position. The team included Asif Iqbal Shajid, Ishak Uddin, Marufujjaman Sojib, Zohra Zarin, and Jashem Shikder. Team Last Minute from Bangladesh University of Professionals became the 2nd Runner-up in the competition.
The chairman of the Department of Finance, University of Dhaka, Dr. M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury congratulated the two teams and wished the winning streak continues in the days to come.
Mr. Shahidul Islam, CFA; Mr. Minhaz Zia, CFA; Mr. Hasib Reza, CFA; and Mr. Iqbal Chowdhury, MD & CEO, LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Limited acted as the judges for the local final. Biplab Das, FCCA, local coordinator of the competition, announced the winners after the final presentations. The local final round took place at the Sheraton Hotel, Nawab Hall in Banani Dhaka on 28 February 2024.
The Champion, 1st Runner-up, and 2nd Runner-up teams will receive a total of BDT 5,00,000 as prize money for the local part of the competition along with industry limelight. The teams presented their financial analysis and provided buy/sell/hold recommendations on LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Limited (LHBL).
The local competition started on 15 December 2023 and 79 teams consisting of 312 participants from 16 Universities/Institutes around the country participated in this competition. From there, the top 10 teams consisting of 45 participants were selected for the equity research report round. Based on their performance top 5 teams proceeded to the local final where they presented their solution before the panel of judges and faced a rigorous Question-and-answer session.
The organizer of the CFA Institute Research Challenge 2023-24, CFA Society Bangladesh is a member society of the global CFA Institute. The Institute has about 170,000 members in more than 170 countries and territories, including more than 150,000 CFA charter holders, from about 151 member societies. CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. CFA Society Bangladesh is the forum of over a hundred Bangladeshi CFA charter holders who are promoting ethical investment practices in the local markets.