Department of Economics, Southeast University

12/08/2026

The Department of Economics at Southeast University organised BETA (Budget Evaluation and Trend Analysis) recently, a day-long intra-university national budget competition that brought together students, policymakers and academics to discuss and analyse Bangladesh's national fiscal policy. The pro

08/08/2026

07/08/2026

Department of Economics at Southeast University organized BETA 2026, Budget Evaluation and Trend Analysis, a day-long budget competition focused on Bangladesh's National Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27. The event took place at the Multipurpose Hall, bringing together students, faculty, and industry professionals.
The morning began with an inauguration by Prof. Mohammed Shamsul Hoque, PhD, Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, followed by a keynote address from Dr. Md. Latiful Haque on the practical importance of evidence-based policy research. The day continued with a panel discussion on public finance and a policy debate moderated by Mushfiq Us Salehin, News Presenter at NTV.
Five finalist teams competed in the live case study round, presenting policy solutions for real-world economic issues. Following the final presentations, Budget Architects took first place as champions, and Mango People secured the runner-up position.
Reflecting on the experience, a member of Budget Architects mentioned that their team wanted to balance economic numbers with social impact, and that the case study required them to look past textbook theories to find practical solutions. A representative from Mango People added that defending their arguments under pressure from industry experts showed them how policymakers manage trade-offs in real time.
We want to thank our chief guest, keynote speaker, panelists, judges, faculty members, volunteers, and student hosts Farhan Mahatab Bhuiyan and Samiha Jahan Disha. Special thanks also go to our supporting organizations, Young Economists of SEU and Southeast Debate Club, for their work in coordinating the event.

06/08/2026

BETA 2026 brought together students from across the university to present detailed evaluations of the national budget, and the quality of the competition depended on the careful work of our judges.
The Grand Finale presentations were judged by Fahima Kabir, Chairperson of the Department of Economics at Southeast University, Dr. Wasim Akram, Assistant Professor and Coordinator, Dr. Jasia Tahzeeda, Assistant Professor, Md Sadat Anowar, Research Analyst at IFPRI, and Mamtajul Jannat, Senior Research Associate at CPD. They evaluated teams based on economic analysis, data accuracy, practical policy solutions, presentation delivery, and answers during the question and answer session.
We also want to recognize our knock-out round judges, Ruba Rummana, Shuktara Khanom, Md. Ashiqur Rahman, Sazeda Akter, and Mohammad Asrarul Hasanat from the Department of Economics at Southeast University. Their initial evaluations made the final round possible.
Thank you to all our judges for their time, feedback, and support throughout the competition.

06/08/2026

The Department of Economics at Southeast University hosted an interactive panel discussion during BETA 2026, focusing on Bangladesh's national fiscal policy, taxation, and public expenditure for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
The session was chaired by Prof. Yusuf Mahbubul Islam, PhD, Vice Chancellor of Southeast University, and moderated by Prof. M. Mofazzal Hossain, Pro Vice Chancellor. Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqi, Member (Tax Policy) at the National Board of Revenue, attended as Chief Guest.
The panel included Advocate Niaz Ahmed from the Board of Trustees of Southeast University, Md. Monzorul Haque, Joint Secretary at the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director at CPD, Dr. Md. Nurul Amin, Additional Commissioner of Taxes at Taxes Zone-2 Dhaka, Dr. M H Khusru FCA, Director and CEO of Expo, and Md. Tareque Hassan, First Secretary at NBR.
A major focus of the discussion was the education sector allocation in the national budget. Panelists noted that Bangladesh currently allocates around 2 percent of GDP to education, which is well below the target of 3.5 to 4 percent. They highlighted that much of this funding goes toward operational costs rather than development, and emphasized that future budget allocations should focus on teacher compensation, training, and addressing staff shortages instead of focusing only on physical infrastructure.
Thank you to our guest speakers and panelists for taking the time to share their expertise with our students and faculty.

04/08/2026

Congratulations to Tanzim Tamim on being named Best Speaker for the policy debate segment.
Tanzim Tamim set the standard for the room. They demonstrated a strong command of the material and delivered sharp, logically sound arguments under pressure.
A highly deserved recognition for an excellent performance.

04/08/2026

Congratulations to Budget Architect and Mango People for securing the Champion and Runner-Up spots.
They separated themselves from a highly competitive field with clear, data-driven analysis and well-structured arguments.
A well-deserved recognition for both teams.

02/08/2026

After a rigorous screening of incredible strategies and policy blueprints, the judges have made their decision. We are proud to announce the finalists for the National Budget Competition segment of BETA 2026.
Congratulations to the teams who have secured their spot in the Grand Finale.
IMPORTANT NEXT STEP:
In a short time, we will send you an official email to your Team Leaders with the schedule and instructions for the Final Round. Please check your inbox immediately (including the spam folder) and follow the steps to confirm your participation.
The stage is set. See you at the Grand Finale.

Organised by
Department of Economics
Southeast University

30/07/2026

Deadline Extended: BETA Round 1

​The submission deadline for Round 1 is extended to today, July 30, at 1:00 PM. Please submit your work through the email before the cutoff.