B’Yeah Online Learning Management System (LMS) – উদ্যোক্তার পাঠশালা is A Milestone For Young Entrepreneurs : State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak

Physical distancing has become one of the inevitable measures to tackle the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation worldwide. Hence, the government of Bangladesh declared nationwide lockdown since March 2020. In response to this measure, local and global institutions/organizations were forced to take alternative routes to carry on their businesses. Taking that into cognizance, with the support of YBI and IKEA Foundation, Bangladesh Youth Enterprise Advice & Helpcentre (B’Yeah) had taken initiatives to conduct programs and train young entrepreneurs all over the country through the “Accelerating Youth Led Businesses in Digital Era” project and disseminate all the information virtually concerning entrepreneurial activities/ needs including exchange new ideas and offering mentoring services, along with conducting Webinars. To serve this sole purpose, B’Yeah has developed the online learning management System (LMS) – উদ্যোক্তার পাঠশালা.

Following this, a live zoom inauguration of online Learning Management System (LMS) – উদ্যোক্তার পাঠশালা program was held on Tuesday, 22 June, 2021 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. We were graced by Honorable State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Division of Bangladesh, Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP as the Chief Guest at the inaugural function. The ceremony was also graced by Dr. Md. Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director, SME Foundation and Anita Tiessen, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Business International (YBI) as the Special Guests. Board members of B’Yeah, entrepreneurs, and different professionals were also present in the program.

Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Founder Chairperson & Board member, B’Yeah said in his greeting speech that the main objective of B’Yeah is to alleviate unemployment and create jobs in the country by turning young people into entrepreneurs. As a part of accomplishing the mission, today we are presenting online contents to our young entrepreneurs. In this process the role of our entrepreneurs, mentor and resource persons are very important. He would like to thanks YBI and IKEA Foundation for their support throughout the digitization of entrepreneurs learning platform.

Ashfaq Haque, Executive Director of B’Yeah portrayed the success of B’Yeah since its inception. She said,

As a member of YBI global network, B’Yeah is a non-profi­t organization based in Bangladesh, working with young entrepreneurs aged between 18-35 to start, strengthen and expand their businesses. B’Yeah also provides training, access to ­finance, volunteer mentoring and other business development services since 2007. With the support of YBI and IKA Foundation, we have been able to introduce the learning management system (LMS) today. By logging in to LMS, young entrepreneurs can easily acquire information and videos related to entrepreneurial development at a very lower cost. It will also benefits district, sub-district and union level entrepreneurs in Bangladesh and enable them to participate dynamically in online initiatives using their smartphones. B’Yeah is determined to back up all young entrepreneurs throughout the country so that they can collect the necessary information and training via LMS- উদ্যোক্তার পাঠশালা.

Among 2000 entrepreneurs and mentors, Amena Begum, Wahab Khan, Sharmin Moushumi, Saiful Islam,Fatiha Islam and mentor Aktaruzzaman shared their experiences and journey with B’Yeah.

Special Guest Anita Tiessen, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Business International (YBI) said, YBI is a network of 75 entrepreneurial development organizations around the world. As a member of this global network, B’Yeah has been operating its activities such as training, mentoring and providing financial and other business related advices very successfully since 2009. Anita Tiessen has delighted to see the passion and enthusiasm of young entrepreneurs from Bangladesh. She added, the presence of Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP and Dr. Md. Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director, SME Foundation proved that Bangladesh is putting effort on entrepreneur development. B’Yeah has already showed great achievements through google.org and IKEA projects. She thinks the success rate is higher is the business owner has a mentoring to guide them. She appreciated idea of online learning management system LMS of B’Yeah and wishes all the success for any further developments.

Before the official inauguration a short presentation on LMS-“উদ্যোক্তার পাঠশালা” was showen then Honorable State Minister for ICT Division of Bangladesh, Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP announced the opening of LMS- উদ্যোক্তার পাঠশালা, followed by his speech.  Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP said, Bangladesh has keeping well with the development trend under the leadership of our honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The present government is helping to eradicate unemployment from the country, create jobs as well as establishing mainstream businesses for women. Similarly, B’Yeah LMS- উদ্যোক্তার পাঠশালা intend to boost up young entrepreneurs and to play an effective role in the capacity building. Since 2007, B’Yeah is working towards establishing its motto “Turning Job seekers into job creators”, with the purpose to Increase youth participation in trade industry, eliminate unemployment through job creation and make effective contribution to the development of the SME sector in Bangladesh. Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP has expressed his wishes to collaborate with Sheikh Rasel ICT Lab with B’Yeah. He added that, now a days ICT has become the backbone of a countries economy, so current Government has made ICT as compulsory subject in the curriculum from 2010 and internet is also available everywhere. Therefore, more people is becoming self-sufficient or freelancer, he proposed if B’Yeah can work with the freelancer through the B’Yeah LMS project to boost up entrepreneurship. Honorable MP suggested, B’Yeah LMS- উদ্যোক্তার পাঠশালা should emphasize on women entrepreneurship and people with disabilities/ autism and to help them become self-sufficient by training or mentoring. He proposed to share links between the government online learning management system and B’Yeah LMS- উদ্যোক্তার পাঠশালা to work together in the future. At the end he thanked B’Yeah for the initiative for digitization by saying, “if you want to shine like a sun then burn like a sun”.

In the closing remarks, Mr. Shahriar Sadat, Treasurer and board member, B’Yeah Thanks Honorable State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Division of Bangladesh, Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, Dr. Md. Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director, SME Foundation and Anita Tiessen, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Business International (YBI), Board members of B’Yeah and everyone for predicating in this program.