"DUBA recognizes a problem and embarks on a meaningful mission to resolve it" 1 & 2

These two news pieces have been circulating on social media this week. It's indeed difficult to accept that Pakistan seems to be ahead of us. However, this bitter reality is a consequence of the choices we've made for our country.

But this wasn't the prevailing reality when we were choosing our career paths. From my childhood, I harbored dreams of becoming a scientist or revolutionary. The idea of joining BCS cadres or any other conventional job never crossed my mind. Being a voracious reader since childhood, my journey towards entrepreneurship was shaped by my reading habits.

My venture into online education, particularly through MOOC sites in the remarkable year of 2012/13, led me to discover Dan Ariely, a professor and entrepreneur, on Coursera. His course on "Introduction to Irrational Behaviors" profoundly influenced me, steering me away from conventional academia towards entrepreneurship. Alongside, my cousin Mazhar, the founder of Startech, served as a source of inspiration.

Before venturing into the realm of entrepreneurship, I laid a robust groundwork through diligent study and preparation. Immersing myself in a plethora of business literature, I absorbed insights from countless books, each offering valuable perspectives and lessons. Moreover, I dedicated significant time to enriching my understanding of entrepreneurship through various MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and training programs, notably those offered by 'Startup Dhaka.' This comprehensive preparation not only equipped me with the necessary knowledge but also instilled confidence in my ability to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship successfully.

The inception of my first venture, Imtiaz Motors, was met with a barrage of opposition from family, friends, and the community at large. Despite lacking familial support, I remained resolute in my entrepreneurial pursuits. However, the vehement opposition took its toll, leading to personal sacrifices and setbacks.

Let's keep the blog focused on its title, avoiding unnecessary personal anecdotes and digressions. This ensures clarity and coherence in delivering the intended message.

After my time in rehabilitation and jail, I noticed the emergence of a vibrant friends' community on Facebook. It struck me that such a community could have easily been started by someone from Feni, like myself, given our talent for building connections. However, it formed in my absence, and I don't hold any hard feelings against Bondhumohol.

After joining the Bondhumohol 7/8 Facebook Group, I eagerly participated in the reunion activities held on December 18, 2020. However, despite my enthusiastic engagement, I couldn't help but notice a glaring disparity in the recognition of achievements.

When I shared my endeavors and dreams during the reunion, there was a conspicuous lack of celebration from my DU 7/8 Friends community. Instead, attention seemed to gravitate towards individuals associated with BCS cadres, which left me feeling overlooked.

The irony struck me when I realized that these BCS cadre individuals, who were being hailed as paragons of merit, were nowhere to be seen in the academic, cultural, or political spheres during our student years. In contrast, my involvement in TSC, the Public Library, and the moodur canteen was widely acknowledged as contributions to educational excellence.

This discrepancy in recognition prompted me to reflect on the values and standards upheld within our community.

Interestingly, our 7/8 friend and business magnate, Ohid, was also the sponsor of the Bondhumohol event. Despite this observation, I have no intention of disparaging my professional friends in any way.

After consulting with Ohid and receiving support from Wadud, I launched Duba Messenger on December 30, 2020. Originally named '7/8 Business Family,' this marked the inception of Duba. It was the beginning of my endeavor to foster a coalition for entrepreneurs.

What a nostalgic moment! 

Wadud and I embarked on a journey, reaching out to friend after friend, in search of those immersed in various business ventures.

During one memorable visit to a friend's enterprise, we had the pleasure of meeting Anika Saba, a fellow member of our 7/8 group and the proud owner of a restaurant. Despite harboring a deep-seated passion for entrepreneurship, Anika found herself reluctantly entangled in a government project due to societal pressures. What struck us most was her reluctance to acknowledge her entrepreneurial aspirations. In our conversation, she subtly hinted at the superiority of a job over entrepreneurship, implying that her professional choice made her more meritorious than me. She even went as far as challenging me on this belief. 

Quite amusing, don't you think?

Do you believe I need to demonstrate my capability to excel in a job as well?

After many efforts, we finally made our vision a reality with the first-ever dream meetup of entrepreneurs, coinciding with Bondhumohol on December 18th, 2021. While this wasn't part of our initial plan, it seems fate played a role in making it happen.

I made decisions about posters and other arrangements, with the valuable support and assistance of friends within the group.

Alright, let's talk logistics. Our choice of venue, the 'Ceilo Rooftop,' was a no-brainer thanks to our friend Prince's connections. We decided to spice things up by commemorating both the centenary of Dhaka University and the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh—credit for the latter idea goes to Wadud.

Shova, the talented owner of  Auora Food, whipped up a delectable cake for the occasion, adding a sweet touch to our discussions. Before the event, Shafi took the initiative, prompted by my suggestion, to design an 'idea sharing form,' which everyone enthusiastically filled out.

Although nearly 40 of our 7/8 friends showed up initially, only 33 stayed for the feast, and ultimately, only 23 friends remained for the duration of this significant meeting.

In that gathering, Wadud took charge as the program conductor, while I assumed the role of the meeting president. Together, we had a productive session where everyone shared their business aspirations and plans.

During the meeting, the idea of forming Duba officially took shape. I encouraged everyone to suggest a name for our group, and it was Ohid's suggestion that stuck, leading to the name 'Duba.' Subsequently, we collectively decided to establish a company, and Ohid graciously offered his office space for our operations.

Now, let's take a moment to ponder.

Can business ventures thrive among friends? Is it feasible to create organizations with classmates or friends?

These questions merit thoughtful consideration, drawing from our shared experiences and insights.

After the meeting took an unexpected turn, we encountered some unusual consequences, a common occurrence in successful gatherings. With our skilled friend Ohid at the table, however, we faced these challenges confidently, knowing we were in capable hands!

During a spirited exchange, Masba, the founder of Humaira Bd and our mentor at Duba, found himself at odds with Lenin, a banker and policy entrepreneur.Lenin aligned himself with Munna, who raised fundamental objections to Duba, while Masba championed my vision.

 Munna's pointed criticisms seemed to stem from hidden motives.Lenin suspected that I aimed to replicate Bondhumohol or create another group for 7/8, fearing it would sow division among our friends. However, my sole intention was to address professional  challenges and foster entrepreneurial collaboration.Despite Lenin's attempts to sway the discussion, with the support of his close friend Munna, their objections revolved around my political stance, behavior, and reading habits, which they deemed unfit for the business community!what???

Let's examine the current situation regarding Lenin and Munna.

Contrary to their initial objections, Lenin has taken an active role in the formation of a new group, contributing to the separation of the 7/8 community. Ironically, it was Lenin who took the initiative to establish another Bondhumohol group, now dubbed "Trinomul Bondhumohol" by our friends. Thus, it becomes evident that the one sowing division within the community is him, not me!

On the other hand, Munna has embarked on a new venture with boisodai.com, focusing on book-related enterprises. Despite his involvement in business, Munna expressed the view during our discussions that books are unrelated to the business community!

After this successful start, we formed a board of directors for Duba Ltd. This step is crucial in fostering a growing startup culture in the coming days. Moreover, it sets the stage for executing prosperous business ventures with precision and efficacy.

The culmination of discussions, writings, and reflections converges on a pivotal point: the Duba problem statement.

Duba Problem Statement:

The challenge lies in the lack of encouragement and recognition for entrepreneurship among public/private University students, notably at Dhaka University, hindering the development of a robust startup culture and stifling entrepreneurial potential.

This succinctly encapsulates the core challenge that Duba seeks to overcome.

We're thrilled to introduce our women's division within Duba Club Ltd, providing a space for female professionals to shine. Join us for our upcoming Duba women's initiatives. 

Thank you for being a part of our Duba journey!