Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 20, 2026 (BSS) - The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) hosted the SAFA Quiz, Public Speaking and Essay Contests 2025 in Dhaka recently bringing together outstanding national-level winners from five South Asian countries for a regional competition focused on knowledge, communication and written expression.

Representatives from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal participated in the programme. 

Six professional accounting institutions took part in the Quiz and Public Speaking Contests: the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) and the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) from Bangladesh, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) from India, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) from Nepal, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) from Pakistan and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) from Sri Lanka, said a press release here today.

The contestants had previously emerged as national-level winners and represented their respective professional institutions and countries at the SAFA competition. 

A total of 12 contestants participated in the Quiz Contest and 12 in the Public Speaking Contest, with two contestants representing each participating institution. 

The Essay Contest featured 21 contestants, with three participants representing each institution.

The event was attended by Mohammed Humayun Kabir, president of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA); Pravin Kumar Jha, SAFA vice president; (Dr.) Jai Kumar Batra, permanent secretary of SAFA; and Sabbir Ahmed, president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB).

Md. Kamruzzaman, chairman of the Dhaka Regional Committee (DRC), and Fahmida Khan, chairman of SAFA Quiz, Public Speaking and Essay Contests 2025, along with members of the DRC, was also present at the event.
 
In the SAFA Quiz Contest, ICAB of Bangladesh and the ICAN of Nepal were declared joint winners While ICMAB of Bangladesh secured the runner-up position.

In the Public Speaking Contest, the Champion and 1st Runner-up positions were claimed by participants from ICAN of Nepal while a participant representing ICAI of India secured the 2nd Runner-up position.

The Essay Contest featured seven participating institutions: ICMAB from Bangladesh, ICAI and the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India (ICMAI) from India, ICAN from Nepal, ICAP from Pakistan, alongside CA Sri Lanka and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA Sri Lanka). 

ICMAI of India emerged as Champion while ICAI secured the first Runner-up position and ICMAI also secured the second Runner-up position.