The British Council hosted the Bangladesh-UK Alumni Network (BUKAN) Night at the Dhaka University campus office on 10 December 2016 to bring together all UK alumni in Bangladesh. BUKAN Night was a road forward to develop a stronger association that offers networking and other opportunities which could be useful and enjoyable. The event welcomed suggestions for future engagement and activities and support for BUKAN working group that was formed during the event in 2015 and which has been meeting to develop a stronger network.
Along with over 100 alumni, Emily Summers, Second Secretary of Political Section, British High Commission and Jim Scarth, Deputy Director, British Council attended the event. The alumni engaged themselves into lively networking and enjoyed the cultural event.
BUKAN’s logo, vision, mission statements and Facebook page was formally unveiled at the event. Jim Scarth said, “If Higher education is to be effective in the role of developing the capacity of a nation, it does require a bold long term vision and that real capacity building has to happen in Bangladesh - you cannot rely on students going abroad for university studies. An expansion of post graduate programmes is necessary to raise the quality of higher education. Bangladesh needs to build quality and capacity in universities to create a workforce that will remain in Bangladesh.’’
Emily Summers, Second Secretary of British High Commission said, “Promotion, communication and continued coordination of the British Council with BUKAN will be the driver of change for a platform that will further strengthen to help the alumni grow as individuals through providing high skills opportunity, equipped with training and professional skills.”
The steering committee for BUKAN was formed in 2015 with aims to maintain networks between the scholars, mentor young and talented researchers, and add greater value to the society.