Second edition of TEDxBUET held successfully

recently for the second time organised an event that brought stories
of people who are successful in life. The event chronicles the tales of those
who made the impossible possible, those who turned the unthinkable into the
quotidian.
Among others spoke at the event were Akram Khan, former Bangladesh cricket
team captain, Nishat Mazumder, first Bangladeshi woman to scale Mount
Everest, Major General Abu Sayeed Md. Masud, Chairman of Jolshiri Abashon,
Atiqul Islam, Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, and Dr. Celia Shahnaz,
Chair of IEEE Bangladesh Section and Professor in the Department of Electrical
and Electronic Engineering, BUET.
The attendees were greeted by TEDxBUET Moderator Dr. MD Sabbir Mostafa
Khan, Co-Moderator Dr. Celia Shahnaz, Climate Change researchers and
TEDxBUET Co-Moderator Sadia Binte Mahtab, licensee Maftahul Islam and Co-
Organiser Alif Al Arefin Prodhan.
Climate Change researchers and TEDxBUET Co-Moderator Sadia Binte Mahtab
spoke about the glorious journey of TEDxBUET.
She said, ‘TEDxBUET covers almost all topics — from science to business to
global issues — in more than 100 languages. TEDxBUET deals with sharing
stores of people successful in their respective fields. We are organising the
event for the second time. This year we will listen to the stories of five
successful Bangladeshi nationals.’
Akram Khan, one of the former Bangladesh cricket team captain and currently
the chairman of Cricket Operations Committee of the Bangladesh Cricket
Board and one of the the Board of Directors of the BCB, said: ‘18 years ago on
a cold day in Northampton, England in ICC World Cup. One run-out caused a
crazy crowd flooding the pitch- all roaring for the glory of Bangladesh, for the
hard-earned victory against Pakistan. This is a memory that remains engraved
in the minds of millions of Bangladeshis and will remain this way forever.’
And another name went up with that match in history, and it was Akram
Khan’s, who scored the highest run (42) for Bangladesh. Just two years prior to
the historic match, Bangladesh had defeated Kenya by 2 wickets in the final of
Trophy in Kuala Lampur, a match that went down to the wire, securing the

champions title. Akram Khan was the captain of the Bangladesh side then. At
the time when winnings came rare, his aggressive performance ensured
Bangladesh were triumphant over few other teams.
Nishat Mazumder, the first Bangladeshi woman to scale Mount Everest, said, ‘I
reached there with the help of three Sherpas – Lakpa Sherpa, Pemba Dorje
Sherpa, Mingma Sherpa. I reached the northern side of the mountain with the
team on 19 May 2012.
We all love to take challenges and explore new things. But what we need is to
have a lot of courage and even more patience. It took me almost ten years of
preparation before she attempted to climb the Everest. I joined the
Bangladesh Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC) and ever since then
went on expeditions with the other members of the organization. I received
official training from 2007 at the Darjeeling Mountaineering Club in India. I
climbed the ‘Singu Chuli’ of the Himalayas in 2008, following which, I took part
in a number of expeditions. I also took part in the Manaslu peak expedition in
2011.’
Nishat received Anannya Top Ten Awards in 2008.’
Major General Abu Sayed Mohammad Masud is a BUET graduate who has
been involved several different national engineering projects as well as those
in the Bangladesh Army where he has served for as many as 35 years.
He said, ‘I’m the current chairman of Jolshiri Abashon and have been assigned
the role of project director in several engineering projects, namely Mirpur-
Airport Road Flyover Project, Padma Multipurpose pridge project,
reconstruction of Pochoboti-Mukhterpur Road Link project in 2012, Mehgna-
Gomti Bridge Rehabilitation Project between 2012 and 2013. Besides road and
construction I worked for environment and civic amenities related project such
as integrated development of Hatirjheel Area including Begunbari Khal
Project.’
Atiqul Islam is a successful businessman and the current mayor of Dhaka North
City Corporation. He also served as the president of BGMEA during 2013-14.
Atiqul Islam said: ‘I started the business in the garment sector of Bangladesh by
establishing Islam Garments. During playing my role, as the president of
BGMEA I played a part in banning child labor in the garments industry. I’m
serving as the President of the Centre of Excellence for Bangladesh Apparel

Industry, which is responsible for improving the labor situation and product
quality of Bangladesh in garment sectors. I established several hospitals
around the Dhaka city for better treatment of garments worker. I have
received Commercial Important Person (CIP) award for three times. I was
awarded eight times from Walmart as a most successful entrepreneur.’
Atiqul Islam has received the IEB award from the honourable Prime Minister of
Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and also became a Fellow of the Institution of Civil
Engineers (FICE), London, UK, a feat he achieved for his numerous
contributions in the field of engineering.
Another speaker at the event was Dr. Celia Shahnaz. She currently is a
Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, BUET and
is serving as the 2018-19 Chair of IEEE Bangladesh Section. She is the recipient
of Bangladesh-Academy of Science gold model for her contribution in science
and Engineering in Bangladesh. Recently, her papers have received best paper
award of biomedical Engineering track at TENCON 2017.
She is also the founder and coordinator of FLASH, a special interest group on
Humanitarian Technology (SIGHT) in IEEE Bangladesh Section. In 2018, in order
to ensure clean water for Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh, she has
conceptualized the project “Bringing Life Back to Rohingya” as a primary
applicant. She has served as leader of several humanitarian technology-based
projects for deaf, dumb, blind people and autistic children.
She is the Founding Chair of WIE Affinity Group, IEEE Bangladesh Section and is
currently acting as an advisor and Chair. She has served as the Co-chair in IEEE
WIE Global Summit 2016 at Bangalore as well as the program Chair. She is the
founder and organizer of IEEE Signal Processing and IEEE Industrial Applications
societies of Bangladesh Chapters.
The event was well attended by students, teachers, business personalities
among others.
TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short,
powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where
Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all
topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100
languages.