BRAC University welcomes Spring 2026 students

BRAC University held an orientation programme for students enrolling in the Spring 2026 semester at its Merul Badda campus in Dhaka on 29 January 2026.

The event brought together new students, faculty members and university officials, says a press release.

The orientation speaker was Johan Buse, chief executive officer (CEO) of Banglalink Digital Communications Limited, who delivered a speech titled “Youth Opportunities in the Age of AI: Bold Futures and Born in the Age of Digital Change”.

“Many call this era of AI the era of artificial intelligence. I call it augmented intelligence,” Buse said.

He said artificial intelligence has increased the speed of work and is now being used in almost every field, adding that in the coming days AI would be used in nearly 80 percent of jobs.

“The future is in the hands of those who learn to use it,” he said, urging students to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

Buse, however, cautioned that AI cannot replace creativity and imagination and must be used ethically. “You have to control AI so that AI cannot control you,” he said.

Vice-Chancellor Syed Ferhat Anwar welcomed the students and advised them to remain updated while acting responsibly towards society and the state.

He said students were at BRAC University to bring about change and must demonstrate their ability by doing something different to make the world a better place.

Professor Anwar also said students should inspire those around them and learn from differences to strengthen collaboration and progress.

“More than 40 percent of our graduates, not our Bangladesh as a whole, remain unemployed. Those who are leaving the country and working elsewhere outside of this country are underemployed,” he said, encouraging students to develop deeper knowledge and skills.

The programme highlighted the history of BRAC University and the educational philosophy of its founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed through audiovisual presentations. Key features of the university, including the Residential Semester and student club activities, were also introduced.

Recent achievements of three students were recognised. Final-year computer science student Feroza Mahzabin became champion of Grameenphone FutureMakers with her AI-powered Bangla sign language application Ishara.

Law graduate Tasmia Mahmud Parisha secured fifth position with her team at an international moot court competition in Gujarat, India, while Lamia Ahmed Khan, a second-semester computer science and engineering student, won a bronze medal at a taekwondo championship in Nepal, where her team also secured silver.

Registrar David Dowland, Dean of the School of General Education Samia Haque and Proctor Rubana Ahmed also spoke at the programme, which was moderated by Student Life joint director Tahsina Rahman.

The orientation concluded with a dance performance by members of the student club Monon, followed by a concert.