On December 16th—Victory Day in Bangladesh—a new kind of triumph was announced. Four postgraduate students from the University of Dhaka were crowned global winners of the 2024 ISCEA Global Case Competition, placing first among dozens of teams worldwide. For Naima Zia, M Fatin Istiaque, Md Ferdous Rahman Razon, and Rauza Hossain, it was more than just winning. It was the culmination of months of pressure, perseverance, and belief.
you can read the full interview with the winning team here c4b29f_3ebbcf8b9da3470f8c82dc743c1c94a2.pdf
1. The Journey: From Doubt to Determination
“This win isn’t just for us,” the team shared. “It’s for every Bangladeshi student who wonders if they belong on the global stage.”
Their journey began with ambition—but also setbacks. Earlier case competitions had ended in disappointment. Political unrest in July and August 2024 disrupted the national leg of the competition, causing anxiety and uncertainty. Final exams clashed with case study deadlines. At one point, they had just three weeks to prepare for the global round.
But they didn’t give up.
Their strategy was built around resilience and resourcefulness. They held offline brainstorming sessions to craft solutions, then followed up with late-night Zoom meetings to refine content and visuals. At times, their WhatsApp group buzzed with slide revisions at 2:00 AM. They shared tasks based on individual strengths—design, research, analysis, presenting—and supported each other unconditionally.
The moment the winners were announced—on Victory Day, no less—felt surreal. “We thought about every sleepless night, every hard choice, and every moment we nearly gave up. This wasn’t just a trophy—it was personal.”
2. The Case Study: Ethics Meets Realism
The competition centered on GreenTech Innovations, a fictional electronics manufacturer under scrutiny for unethical supply chain practices. The team had to design a strategy that upheld social and environmental due diligence without sacrificing operational efficiency.
Their solution was grounded in real-world feasibility—no buzzwords, no silver bullets. While other teams leaned toward expensive tech fixes, the Dhaka team proposed supplier audits, region-specific training, and an enforceable Supplier Code of Conduct. They drew parallels to local industries in Bangladesh, especially garment manufacturing, adding contextual relevance to their proposal.
They impressed judges not just with ideas—but with how well those ideas could actually work.
3. The Prize: More Than Recognition
Winning the global competition came with a substantial reward:
💰 $1,000 prize
🎓 A full scholarship to a prestigious ISCEA certification (CSSCP, CFDP, CSCA, CPLM, or CDDP)
Each team member chose their path forward:
- Fatin Istiaque chose CSSCP (Certified Sustainable Supply Chain Professional) to align marketing with sustainability.
- Naima Zia, Ferdous Razon, and Rauza Hossain chose CFDP (Certified Forecaster and Demand Planner), recognizing the critical need for analytical forecasting in today’s volatile markets.
This certification support will shape their careers—giving them a globally recognized credential, aligned to real industry needs.
4. Lessons for Leaders: What the Next Generation Has to Say
To today’s supply chain executives, the team offered advice shaped by their experience:
“Embrace cross-generational learning. We might not have decades of experience, but we bring agility, fresh thinking, and fluency in emerging technologies like AI and blockchain.”
They also stressed the importance of sustainability—not as a corporate slogan, but as a genuine competitive advantage. From route optimization to ethical sourcing, the future belongs to those who embed purpose in performance.
5. Why This Win Matters
This win is a message.
It says that talent isn’t bound by borders.
It proves that creativity, teamwork, and belief can overcome any disadvantage.
And it shows what’s possible when students are given the tools, encouragement, and platforms to rise.
As the team put it:
“We hope our story inspires other students from Bangladesh—and around the world—to step forward. The global stage is waiting, and you’re more ready than you think.”
🟢 Want to join the next competition?
The 2025 ISCEA Global Case Competition (Irish entry) is now open.
🌍 It’s free to enter for students and early-career professionals under 30.
