To solve the most citizen centric 10 challenges of Bangladesh, “National Hackathon on Frontier Technologies” is going to be organized with the slogan “Think. Hack. Solve.”. Under the ICT Division, “Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) project” with its Startup Bangladesh banner in association with “High Commission of India in Bangladesh” and “Tech Mahindra Limited (TechM)” are organizing this Hackathon. ICT division is working to develope a startup ecosystem at the ICT sector in Bangladesh and this is the continuation of this hackathon.
A university campaign of the hackathon was held today, January 25, 2020 (Saturday) in Mymensingh at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). The Hon’ble Senior Secretary of ICT Division Mr. N M Zeaul Alam PAA was the chief guest of the program. The Hon’ble Pro-Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Professor Dr. Md. Jashimuddin Khan; Director of BAURES Professor Dr. Md. Abu Hadi Noor Ali Khan; Department of Crop Botany, BAU & Syndicate member JKKNIU Professor Dr. A.K.M. Zakir Hossain; Head of Dept of Computer Science and Engineering, JKKNIU Professor Dr. Mst Jannatul Ferdous, Head of Dept of Computer Science and Math Mr. Muhammad Mustagis Billah and the Deputy Project Director of iDEA Project Kazi Hosna Ara were the special guests of the campaign. The program was chaired by Professor Dr. Md. Nurul Hoque, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, BAU at Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Auditorium of the campus.
The chief guest Hon’ble Senior Secretary of ICT Division Mr. N M Zeaul Alam PAA shared that the government has come forward to provide maximum opportunities for the development of ICT sector for the young generation. The government is also planning to set up an incubation center for local startups in every district, just like as Hitech- Park. The ICT Division is also working to ensure that there is at least one floor dedicated to startups in every HI-TECH parks. ICT division is moving forward very quickly to implement the $ 5 billion earnings target set for the IT sector by 2021. However, he requested to all young people to come forward to achieve these. Honorable ICT Senior Secretary invited all to work together to build skilled work force for the nation.
The Hon’ble Pro-Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Professor Dr. Md. Jashimuddin Khan addressed various issues related to the 4th Industrial Revolution as special guest of the program. He said a lot of work is being done on agriculture based on ICT. With the use of technology, Food in Bangladesh has become self-sufficient. Bangladesh has to come forward to achieve self-sufficiency not only in food but also in ICT too. He believes the need to raise more awareness of students in agriculture sector asap.
As special guest, Deputy Director of iDEA Project Kazi Hosna Ara said that the government is adopting and implementing various projects to reach its full service in all the areas of the country. The iDEA project bearing its “Startup Bangladesh” banner is working to fund local entrepreneurs and supporting them through Mentoring, Grooming, Co-working space etc. He hoped that a startup ecosystem would be formed soon in Bangladesh. He informed to all that the details of the hackathon can be found on the Startup Bangladesh-iDEA project website at www.startupbangladesh.gov.bd. The deadline to apply for a hackathon is January 31, 2020 (Friday).
The Chair of the program Professor Dr. Md. Nurul Hoque, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, BAU expressed his sincere thanks to the authority for organizing such an event. He hoped that the young generation would be able to play a strong role in the formation of Digital Bangladesh. Bangladesh Agricultural University is playing a leading role in agricultural education. Agricultural engineering graduates are achieving their desired goals by increasing production by contributing to irrigation and agricultural mechanization smartly. Through computer simulation, new varieties of crops are being invented in recent times. He said – We want to solve all problems of our agriculture through computer. At the end of the speech, he requested the government to provide necessary support for setting up two labs for BAU.
After the guest’s speech, RHM Alaol Kabir, Senior Consultant to the iDEA project presented a keynote on the hackathon. Later on, the participants took part in the Hackathon Q&A session. More than two hundred students, university teachers, officials and prominent people of the area attended the said campaign in Mymensingh.
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Another university campaign was held on the same day at Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET). Honorable VC Professor Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam Sheikh was the chief guest on that campaign. Over 400 participants attended at the campaign from Rajshahi Division. Besides, The Dean of Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering Prof. Dr. Zahurul Islam Sarkar and the register of RUET Prof. Dr. Md. Selim Hossain were the special guests of the program. The program was chaired by Prof. Dr. Boshir Ahmed. Head of CSE Department. The keynote note was presented by ABM Monirul Islam, consultant to the iDEA project.