Experts have called for the inclusion of contemporary industry issues in the MBA curriculum at the Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX) to enhance managerial capabilities and help groom future CEOs for the country's apparel sector.
They made the suggestions during a discussion titled "Curriculum Revisit for the MBA in Textiles and Fresher's Reception Program 2025", held at a city hotel on Friday night. The event was organised by the Department of Textile Engineering Management at BUTEX.
Dhaka University Marketing Department Professor Dr Mizanur Rahman presented the keynote paper, while the event was moderated by BUTEX Professor Dr Md Masum.
Addressing the event as special guest, David Hasnat, Chairman and CEO of Viyellatex Group, said engineers tend to approach problems solely from a technical perspective, but they also need to understand cost of production, time management, and resource efficiency.
Sharing his own experience, he said, "After completing my MBA in 1988, I took an apparel business course at a private university for Tk 10,000. Initially, I thought it was a waste of time and money. But ten years later, when I entered the industry, I realised how valuable that course was."
He advised MBA students to be dedicated to their work, continuously seek to learn new things, and uphold ethical standards. "When starting out, focus on excellence, not earnings," he said.
Hasnat added that he initially began his apparel business with a 10% stake in a partnership. After six years, the other partners handed over their shares to him, and he was eventually able to diversify into other sectors, including power.
Mahbub Milton, Executive Director of Masco Group, said the MBA program should be redesigned to create future industry leaders, including CEOs. "This requires active engagement from more stakeholders," he noted.
He pointed out that industry owners expected value addition from executives-through increased productivity, reduced wastage, and cost efficiency. He advised students to focus on horizontal growth rather than vertical promotion, highlighting the critical role of HR in human development and the importance of emotional intelligence in becoming a top executive.
BUTEX Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Zulhash Uddin, speaking as the chief guest, said the MBA curriculum had been designed to prepare students for top leadership roles in the apparel industry. "No other university in Bangladesh offers such a specialised course, and it will play a vital role in producing future industry leaders," he said.
RH Corporation Executive Director Hafizur Rahman noted that the updated curriculum had been tailored to address real-world business challenges. "This program will help nurture true entrepreneurs and industry leaders," he said.
Explaining the rationale behind the course, he said it was launched after it had been observed that many textile engineers had lacked career growth opportunities due to limited managerial knowledge. "This program was designed to fill that knowledge gap and develop leadership skills to eventually produce future CEOs," he added.
He also mentioned the high level of competition to get into the program, given its targeted focus on textile engineers. "In Bangladesh, most people want to work from 8 am to 5 pm, but that is not enough for personal or professional growth," he said.
Anwar Hossain, Managing Director of Grameen Knitwear, said Bangladesh's garments industry remained weak in terms of technical capacity. "The right combination of technical expertise and management knowledge is essential to lead the apparel sector," he added.
He stressed the need for discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaboration to create that combination. "China leads the global apparel industry because of its technological edge," he said.
Hossain also noted gaps in HR knowledge, particularly concerning labor laws and international communication skills. He recommended that the curriculum include supply chain management, waste management, procurement, and strategic planning.
Nasimul Gani, Regional Manager of Sainsbury's, observed that Bangladeshi students are more interested in merchandising roles, while showing little interest in technical departments. "This results in foreign professionals filling many of those technical roles," he said.
"Although we have strong technical expertise, we lag behind due to poor communication skills," he added.
Professor Dr Md Ahsan Habib, Dean of the Faculty of Textile Management and Business Studies, said efforts are underway to make the course more industry-oriented.
Dr Towhidul Islam, Professor at the Department of Law, University of Dhaka, stressed the need for students to be familiar with contract law, labor law, and intellectual property rights.
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