The Department of Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM), AIUB organized a webinar on “How Strategic Planning Takes Place, is Managed and Implemented in Pandemic Situation in Banking Sector” on April 06, 2021 from 05.00 pm to 06.30 pm. The target audience of the webinar was students of Purchasing and Procurement: a major course of OSCM and students of Project Management (Section A, D and E). The guest speaker of the webinar was Mr. Syed Mahbubur Rahman, CEO and Managing Director of Mutual Trust Bank Ltd (MTB). 

The webinar was organized to enhance students’ academic learning and to make them understand how strategic planning takes place in real-life, and how it is managed and implemented in this pandemic situation specially in banking sector. The guest speaker started with a brief idea about the banking sector in Bangladesh. Currently there are 61 scheduled banks in Bangladesh under full control and supervision of Bangladesh Bank which is empowered to do so through Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972 and Bank company Act, 1991. He mentioned that the most important strategy in this pandemic situation is to make the customer feel that the bank is always there to support them. Banking sector has given more focus on digital banking, investing more on ATM, internet banking software, digitalization of different banking services such as alternate delivery channels to maintain customer service so that customers do not feel neglected, contacting them on a regular basis, emphasizing more on improving call center service, allowing them to pay credit card bills through apps. At MTB, even though a client doesn’t have credit card of MTB but just by having an account of MTB he or she is able to pay credit card bills of another bank. MTB is trying to be more competitive by bringing cost down, placing right things at right time, implementing concept such as inclusive banking, agent baking, Transection, MMS and Bank opening form in Bengali for rural people, providing proper guidance from top management to make employees motived towards good service to the customer, conducting research, focus group discussion to know about customers’ current needs. 

Mr. Mahbub also shared tips and techniques on how to become successful in banking sector from his versatile banking experience. Prior to joining MTB, he was the Managing Director & CEO of the Dhaka Bank Limited. Before that he served the BRAC Bank Limited as Managing Director & CEO and Deputy Managing Director (DMD). He also served Prime Bank Limited as Deputy Managing Director. He has been elected as the Chairman of Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) for 2018 and 2019 and is serving the association till now. He was accorded with ‘The Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Award’ for Bangladesh for his achievement in the period from 2011 to 2013.He has attended various local and overseas training courses and workshops, and frequently delivers lectures in the field of finance, banking and management. 

At the end, the session was opened for students to ask questions. The overwhelming question-and-answer session fully justified the effectiveness and timeliness of the webinar. It showed that the topic was interesting to them because of its relevancy with current pandemic situation. Around 120 students attended the webinar. The guest speaker appreciated students for their interactive participation.

Prof. Dr. Charles C. Villanueva, VP, Academics and Dean, Faculty of Business Administration inaugurated the webinar with a welcome speech and Prof. Dr. Nisar Ahmed, MBA Program Director and acting Head of OSCM Department delivered the vote of thanks to the guest speaker. The webinar was coordinated by Ms. Shahnaz Zarin Haque, Assistant Professor, Department of OSCM, FBA. The Department of Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM) humbly appreciates the support extended by the AIUB management.