A hackathon campaign was organized at the University of Dhaka to solve the most citizen centric challenges of Bangladesh

“Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) project” under ICT Division with its Startup Bangladesh banner is organizing “National Hackathon on Frontier Technologies”. To solve the most citizen centric 10 challenges of Bangladesh, this hackathon is being organized with the slogan “Think. Hack. Solve.”. For this purpose, the university campaign was already held in 10 places across the country. As a part of this, the last campaign of the hackathon was held on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at the Conference Hall of the Faculty of Business Studies of University of Dhaka today.

Professor Dr. M. Kaykobad, Department of CSE, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET); The director of IIT Professor Dr. Md. Shariful Islam and Syed Mojibul Huq, Project Director (Additional Secretary), iDEA project were there as special guests of the program. Dr. Khondoker Bazlul Hoque, Vice Chairman, Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center, University of Dhaka chaired the program. The Associate Professor & the director of Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center of University of Dhaka Dr. Rashedur Rahman was the moderator of the program of today.

As a special guest of the Program Professor Dr. M. Kaykobad said that The youth of our country think about different ideas. There are many kinds of challenges in the country and at the same time there is also merit in our country. These need to be properly cared for. For the youth, he says that youth have to prove himself. We should not avoid anything. There are many good ideas in the country that should be converted into products. He also mentioned that our young generation are doing very well in programming. He praised the youth of the country for mentioning various awards.

For taking development initiatives in various fields including the ICT sector of the government, The director of IIT Professor Dr. Md. Shariful Islam thanked the government as special guest of the event. The government is trying to provide the best support for the development of the country. He believes these initiatives deserve praise.

Syed Mojibul Huq, Project Director (Additional Secretary), iDEA project said that we want our young generation to solve the challenges of our country, as a special guest of the Program. We want our students to lead in different countries of the world. All kinds of assistance will be given through iDEA Project in setting up startups and funding for startups in Bangladesh. In addition, iDEA project director encouraged the youth to participate in the hackathon.

Dr. Khondoker Bazlul Hoque, Vice Chairman, Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center, University of Dhaka as the Chairperson of the program said that the connection of academia with the government was being implemented which is praiseworthy. If our 1st Industrial Revolution was not successful, the 2nd Industrial Revolution would not have come. Just as we have had success in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Industrial Revolution, on the other hand, we have also suffered losses in many parts. The 4th Industrial Revolution will lead the world towards prosperity and minimize the damage. It is a good decision that the government is moving ahead with the 4th Industrial Revolution. He says that we do hard work but we have to do smart work also. He discusses on demographic dividends. He shared the youth that we have only fifteen years left for dividends on what we are talking about today. Young people have to work together. Technology education will serve as treatment for challenges. He called on the youth to move the country towards prosperity.

The Associate Professor & the director of Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center of University of Dhaka Dr. Rashedur Rahman was present as the program’s moderator. He said that any project or initiative starts from the very small scale. Therefore, one must be careful in implementing the initiative. If BUET and Dhaka University can work together which may give much better result in near future. There is an opportunity to lead the world for young generation. But a qualified CEO is also needed to implement any initiatives. We need professional CEO. The goals of both the Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center (ICE) and the “Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) project” are nearly the same. He said that the Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center (ICE) and iDEA projects will have the opportunity to work together on various topics, including research activities, appropriate training for skill development.

Earlier, R H M Alaol Kabir, senior consultant for the iDEA project, presented a keynote on the hackathon. Later on, the participant of the campaign attended the Hackathon Q&A session. About 300 students and teachers of the university were present on the campaign of University of Dhaka. After the campaign, Dr. Khondoker Bazlul Hoque, The Vice Chairman of Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center, University of Dhaka took an oath on “safe social media” with all present.

The hackathon will be organized with the top 50 teams at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) on February 28-29, 2020 and the top 10 teams will be announced as winner. Applications can be made to participate in the hackathon until February 8, 2020. The hackathon is in association with the “High Commission of India in Bangladesh” and “Tech Mahindra Limited (TechM)”. Details of the hackathon can be found on the Startup Bangladesh-iDEA project website at www.startupbangladesh.gov.bd.