The world just witnessed another successful ICT event in Bangladesh that is ‘Digital World 2016’. The event has been organized for the 4th times with the presence of thousands of visitors from all walks of life. The event's slogan #NonstopBangladesh has created a buzz among the country people that led them to be a part of the country’s biggest ICT expo.
Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially inaugurated the event on 19th October at the International Convention City, Basundhara. 100 ICT experts and investors, 43 world famous speakers and thousands of people visited the mega ICT event.
The 3 day event was resounded with visitors from all walks of life. Students, professionals, freelancers, entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers made the premise joyful and festive. The ICT division of Bangladesh organized this expo with the help of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) and Access 2 Information (A2i).
One of the cores attractive of the Digital World 2016 was ‘Innovation Lab’ and ‘Programming zone’. Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) took the timely initiative in association with Google Development Bangla (GDG).
The original plan of this programming zone was:
- To share basic programming idea with the visitors
- Arrangement for Instant problem solving. The winners will get prizes providing that they successfully solved the problem
- ‘Hour of Code’ challenges
- Meet and discuss with the country’s icons from the related field
- Presenting the scientific innovation by the little would-be scientist
- Sharing information on the upcoming programming contest and National High School Programming Contest (NHSPC)
Programming Zone, another Digital World
The young students are coming forward to invent the scientific things in Bangladesh. It is a good trend that after the regular organization of National Science Congress and National High School Programming Contest (NHSPC) some brilliant young minds are coming up. The participants in the programming zone were from school and college level.
The confidence and enthusiasm they showed was beyond expression. At this very early age in life, they have learnt networking and finding the right people they need. Here, I am telling a similar story of two 15-years old boy from 2 districts met each other, discussed online, mingled their ideas and invented an exciting device called ‘Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’ (UAV).
Estiuck Al Reagan is in his first semester at the Sylhet Polytechnic Institute. He found his passion for innovation from a very early age. He was trying to do something with robots. He was researching by himself, coming up with things, failed and again was trying.
Al Anon Market is also a first year student study at Brindabon Govt. College, Habiganj. He was scrutinizing with technologies to make something.
While both of them were in their highest motivation with great passion, they came across to an online completion, participated and came to know each other. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle they made is able to take satellite signal even from different countries and process the information.
They also participated in the National Children Science Congress in 2016.
Programming zone at a glance
Total Participants (Hour of code)- 165
Total Number of problem solve- 140
Total Participants (junior) - 57
Total Number of problem solve- 25
Total Participants (senior)- 53
Total Number of problem solve-32
Mr. Shafiul Alam Biplob, CEO of APPBD was there in the programming zone to accompany curious minds peeped into the zone and the interested people to discuss with related things.
Students from different institutions also came to the programming zone to know about the latest invention. They were surprised to see the young inventors and took motivation from there.
Tasnuva Mitu, a student of class 6 said, “I thought this can only be done by a grown-up. But, coming here I have changed my mind set.”
A unanimous 26 year old boy was telling, “We can’t think of any such invention. You could make it possible even after living in the remotest part of the country. It proves that ‘where there is a will, there is a way’.
People’s participation in the innovation zone was remarkable. There were 26 projects from 19 team. More than 50 participants participated in the innovation zone and made the premise mesmerizing.
However, the winners of the programming zone were handed over the prizes at the end of the day.
The stall 4 in the Digital World was zippy-fastener with the get-together of innovation, curiosity, confidence, completion and knowledge. The people are now looking forward to a next arrangement like this ‘Programming Zone’ in the near future.