<div class="custom-page-basic-font-size source-sans-pro"><p>2,212 Young readers awarded in Rajshahi</p><p>A total of 2,212 students from 51 schools in Rajshahi City received prizes for their laudable performance in book reading on Friday. They received the prizes in a colorful Prize Giving Ceremony held at the Shilpakala Academy auditorium on 10 May 2024.</p><p>BSK, under its Book Reading Program, organized the program supported by Grameenphone to give away prizes to the students who show their good performance in the evaluation phase where more&nbsp;than 6,000 students took part.</p><p>Commissioner of Rajshahi division Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir attended the ceremony as the chief guest while retired Secretary Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, Artist Khairul Alam Sabuj, Circle Marketing Head of Grameenphone Shahidnur Rahman and BSK Director Shamim Al Mamun were present as special guests.</p><p>On April 2024, Grameenphone signed an agreement to support BSK in their Book Reading Program that aims to stimulate habit of reading amongst millions of children with the ambition to nurture a thoughtful future generation. As a part of this support prize giving ceremony took place on 10 May 2024 at Rajshahi Shilpakala Academy.</p></div>

<div class="custom-page-basic-font-size source-sans-pro"><p>GP Accelerator’s ‘Jelay Jelay Smart Uddyokta’ Bootcamps have launched from Mymensingh on Saturday (April 27) with the aim of fostering the potential development of young entrepreneurs. Primarily targeting university students and aspiring young entrepreneurs, the bootcamp has been organised to enhance the skills of interested youth in undertaking new entrepreneurial ventures, providing assistance, networking, and guidance in&nbsp;the areas of upskilling, networking, and funding. Around 300 entrepreneurs took part in the bootcamp. This regional bootcamp will be organized in 20 places across the country.</p><p>The programme was held at a city hotel attended by Ekramul Haque Titu, Mayor of Mymensingh City Corporation as the Chief Guest. Mahfuzul Alam Masum, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mymensingh DC office, as the special guest. Also present were Harun Or Rashid, DD, Jubo Unnayan, Mymensingh, Lucy Akhtary Mahal, President, Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mymensingh, Nasima Akhtar, Headmaster, Vidyamoyi Government Girls High School, Mymensingh, and Hafiza Akhtar Rani, Founder of Amra Pari and and Community Builder – ‘Jelay Jelay Smart Uddyokta’, Mymensingh area. Noted personalities and participants including local community organizers, startup founders, GP Accelerator (GPA) members, experts and trainers from related industries also took part. Muhammad Sohel Rana, Program Lead of GP Accelerator of Grameenphone, conducted the programme.</p><p>The programme was divided into two parts. The first part of the day focused on a workshop on design thinking, covering what design thinking is, its steps, product testing, how to conduct market research, financial modeling, and how to create a pitch deck for investment. Detailed training was provided on the topics. The final phase of the bootcamp, the second part, an Idea Pitching Competition was organised where local entrepreneurs presented various ideas. Among them, solving local problems was given the utmost importance.</p><p>Winning team: Swachha (স্বচ্ছ)</p></div>

GP Accelerator Bootcamps Kicks Off at Mymensingh

<p>A future skills academy for the youth of Bangladesh</p>

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(26, 26, 26);font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">We are a country of 166 million where half the population is below the age of 25. Every year more than 2 million youth enter the workforce in Bangladesh, but they struggle to find a decent opportunity. A big reason for this is the skills gap that exists between academic curriculum and the real skill requirements at the modern workplace. This disconnect is a major national concern and is resulting in increasing numbers of youth unemployment in Bangladesh, specially post COVID-19. We believe this scenario can be improved if we step in from the industry side.</div><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(26, 26, 26);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(26, 26, 26);font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Grameenphone believes in equitable opportunities for youth to be ready with the right skill sets to face the fourth industrial revolution. Skills, by far, is the most valuable “currency” to become economically independent. Skills allow one to experience true freedom as a citizen to earn from anywhere be it locally or globally.  GP Academy is a digital first platform, guided from the industry side, which seeks to provide youth learning opportunities linked to ther future work. GP Academy stands to empower students of various backgrounds to be ready with career skills, entrepreneurship skills and 4IR skills to be able to excel! </div><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(26, 26, 26);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(26, 26, 26);font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Grameenphone Academy will focus on three primary areas this year. Career Readiness is a critical area for early job seekers. To create appropriate support, we have created a Career Launchpad in collaboration with academia and industry. The content is delivered by knowledge partners and the country’s iconic industry leaders through Masterclasses from their vast experience.</div><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(26, 26, 26);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(26, 26, 26);font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">To motivate and build more young entrepreneurs Accelerate Entrepreneurship is another course that has been specially developed from GP Accelerator curriculum and experience. This is a robust course delivered by country’s leading startup founders and cofounders.</div><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(26, 26, 26);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(26, 26, 26);font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">We need to prepare our youth with Future Skills to prepare for the fourth industrial revolution. Thus, in partnership with Cisco Network Academy, we are offering courses for STEM and Business students to enhance their skills in IOT, Programming and Cyber Security.</div><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(26, 26, 26);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(26, 26, 26);font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">GP Academy offers a unique blended learning model primarily delivered through online learning management. There are also live classes by experts and industry leaders for unique guidance and mentorship. The program has delivered two cohorts of more than 300 university students over the last two years through the GP Explorers program. These students have spoken up and acknowledged the clear positive impact of the skills gained through this period of attachment with Grameenphone Explorers. </div><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(26, 26, 26);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(26, 26, 26);font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Discover the learning journey on <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0, 120, 207);outline:none 0px;text-decoration:none;" href="https://www.grameenphone.academy/">www.grameenphone.academy</a></div>

GP Academy

<p>Enabling innovation through start-ups to accelerate growth of Bangladesh economy</p>

<div class="custom-page-basic-font-size source-sans-pro"><p>Entrepreneurs and startups act as the wheels of the economic growth of the country. Innovative startups bring in new products and services that stimulates new employment and result in the acceleration of economic development. Ambition of GP Accelerator is to support the growth of such innovative young startups. GP Accelerator (GPA) is one of the earliest startup incubators in the country launched in 2015. By structure it is a cohort-based, mentor-led, curriculum-driven open innovation platform that enables and empowers tech startups with the resources they need to build, grow, and exceed possibilities. The program supports 360-degree development by providing equity free grants, expert mentors, top-notch curricula, in-house development resources, investor access and many more. The goal is to help start-ups go to market quickly, raise growth capital and be able to offer value back to communities. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Core components of the program include nationwide outreach and regional design thinking bootcamps for startup pipeline building. A growth-focused accelerator program runs for 6 months to help boost and grow the business in the real sense. Postgraduation, there is a strong follow-on business building and investment readiness support. In addition, an online curriculum Accelerate Entrepreneurship support is also available for all early-stage entrepreneurs to enable their innovation practices completely free of costs.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>6 batches have been completed with 44 startups. Three of the alumni companies have crossed the USD 5 Mn valuation mark namely, Sheba xyz, CMED Health &amp; Parkingkoi. Job creation is one the biggest impacts in the economy that the innovative business models of these startups bring.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the era of innovation and focus on sustainability in Bangladesh, such enablement to startup ecosystem is increasingly desirable and thus GP Accelerator has been highly recognized by the government of Bangladesh. The program has won the Digital Bangladesh National Award in 2021 for consistently supporting innovation and digitalization of Bangladesh through the startup ecosystem. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>GP Accelerator is working in partnership with ecosystem experts BetterStories Ltd, Light Castle Partners, Upskill and investment partners such as Anchorless, IDLC, Bangladesh Angel Network. Amazon Web Services is also a partner to GP Accelerator to provide hosting services.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(26, 26, 26);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(26, 26, 26);font-family:&quot;Source Sans Pro&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, &quot;Noto Sans Bengali&quot;, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Discover more on <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0, 120, 207);outline:none 0px;text-decoration:none;" href="https://www.grameenphone.com/about/gp-accelerator">www.grameenphone.com/about/gp-accelerator</a></div></div>

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