Md Tarek Hossain: Bangladesh’s economy is evolving at a remarkable pace. From rapid industrialisation and digital transformation to expanding financial markets and large-scale infrastructure projects, the country’s growth story is increasingly visible. Yet behind these milestones lies a quieter, but equally important, challenge — preparing a workforce capable of keeping pace with change.

For decades, educational success in Bangladesh was largely measured by academic degrees and certificates. However, as industries become more dynamic and technology-driven, employers are placing greater emphasis on practical competence, adaptability, analytical ability, and continuous learning.

In this changing landscape, Learning and Development (L&D) has emerged as a crucial pillar for professional advancement.

Experts suggest that while education provides a foundation, learning is an ongoing process. A university degree may help someone begin a career, but long-term professional success increasingly depends on one’s ability to adapt, upskill, and respond to evolving workplace demands.

The shift is particularly evident in Bangladesh’s corporate and financial sectors. Areas such as accounting, auditing, taxation, financial reporting, corporate governance, and capital markets are constantly evolving, with technologies like ERP systems, SAP integration, and data analytics becoming standard tools in modern business operations.

Yet, a persistent challenge remains — bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical workplace realities.

Over the years, Bangladesh has gradually developed a professional learning ecosystem to address this issue. Institutions including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB), Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB), and Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB) have played an important role in developing skilled professionals. At the same time, organisations such as the Dhaka Stock Exchange, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market continue to contribute to professional training and market awareness.

However, industry observers argue that institutions alone cannot create capable professionals. Meaningful learning often depends on mentors who combine technical knowledge with real-world experience and can guide professionals through practical decision-making.

One such figure in Bangladesh’s growing L&D space is Md. Shafiqul Alam.

With more than two decades of involvement in professional development, Alam has built a reputation as a trainer who blends academic rigour with practical insight. He is among the few professionals in Bangladesh to hold fellow memberships from three major professional bodies — Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), Fellow Cost and Management Accountant (FCMA), and Fellow Chartered Secretary (FCS). Combined with his academic background in business and law, this multidisciplinary expertise has strengthened his standing in corporate training and professional development.

Over the years, he has delivered training sessions for professionals from government, semi-government, and private institutions. What began alongside his corporate responsibilities gradually developed into a broader commitment to learning and professional capacity-building.

Currently, Alam conducts training at institutions including the Dhaka Stock Exchange, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, BRAC University, and Bangladesh Maritime University, among others.

Colleagues and participants often describe his teaching style as highly practical. Rather than focusing solely on theory, he draws upon real corporate experiences, financial decision-making challenges, compliance matters, and management realities — helping participants connect classroom knowledge with workplace application.

That practical approach is deeply rooted in his professional journey. Throughout his career, Alam has held senior leadership roles at companies including Shanta Holdings, Rahimafrooz, Kallol Group, and Super Star Group, where he worked in areas ranging from corporate finance and taxation to ERP implementation and international business expansion.

He currently serves as Managing Partner and CEO of Shafiqul Alam & Co., while also contributing to efforts at Bizz Solutions PLC to develop structured training programmes focused on IT and IT-enabled services.

Beyond training rooms and boardrooms, Alam has also made contributions through writing. His books on accounting, taxation, financial reporting, company law, and capital markets have become widely used resources among students and professionals, helping simplify complex technical concepts into accessible learning materials.

As Bangladesh continues its economic transformation, experts believe the country’s future competitiveness will depend not only on investment and infrastructure but also on the quality of its human capital.

In that journey, professionals committed to lifelong learning and skill development may quietly prove to be among the country’s most important architects of progress.