They are only in their second year of undergraduate studies at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Dhaka University. But they are confident in themselves as they have proved that Bangladeshi talents can compete globally and win.

The Bangladesh team comprising Zeeshan Rahman and his two fellows Joydeep Choudhury and Baizeed Md Nur have received the award for innovative business plan based on industrial waste management solutions after stiff competition with teams from Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

The final competition was held in Hong Kong on June 24. Earlier, it was held in domestic levels in each of the participating countries including Bangladesh. Rahman and his team became the local champion beating some 253 such teams from different universities of the country.

"Don't underestimate yourself, your quality, knowledge and merit. First of all, try to discover yourself and your merit with what you can do anything that people of other parts of the world have done," said the optimistic team leader Rahman when the trio shared their feelings with journalists in Dhaka at an informal meeting yesterday.

If implemented, the winners said, the project would help Bangladesh become a global model in industrial waste management.

The Bangladesh team has sketched a waste management company, which can offer its services to small textile, RMG and leather units.

Waste management has become a crucial concern of the government and the industry owners as inadequate infrastructure has caused serious threats to the export potential.

The winners said upon completion of their studies they will try to get themselves involved in waste treatment plants.

The three young entrepreneurs received HK$100,000 as prize money from HSBC's Business Development Fund.