Blog & News

On July 26 & 27, a two-day Grace Hopper Girls Programming Camp has organized at the University of Creative Technology in Chittagong. In the current age, coding is considered as a graet problem solving method. In our country, there are a handful of female students in our country who choose coding or programming as their career.  This may be due to fear in programming, lack of skills or lack of interest. At the aim of to increse programming skill as well as interest, Bangladesh Open Source Network haz organized a two-day long programming camp at the University of Creative Technology in Chittagong. 25 female students have participated in this camp. 

Through this camp, the female students get opportunities to recover their lackings in programming. Hands on training , counseilling and a contest on programming has conducted in this camp. Pooja Chakraborty, a lecturer at the University of Creative Technology, is coordinating the camp and is in charge of the program coordinator of BDOSN Md. Raihan Islam, Muntasir Morshed, Nirab Hasan

In the current age of information technology, violence in online against women is a social problem. Awareness of using social media is needed to overcome this problem. And so, a seminar titled Take Back the Tech was held on July 24 at Chittagong Independent University on how to prevent violence against women in online. Bangladesh Open Source Network has organized the seminar with the participation of about 50 students from the university level. The seminar was conducted by Mahbuba Sultana, Chief Coordinator of the Bangladesh Open Source Network and Senior Lecturer in Business Administration at Northern University.

She suggested the girls to be conscious about personal data storage, information exchange and security on social media. She also discuss about the role of the man in preventing violence. She said, "If men are truly respectful of women and believe in women empowerment then it is possible to overcome this social problem in the country.

He added that alertness and efficiency in the Internet world can prevent online violence. Also, to prevent cybercrime and cyberbullying, there is a need to keep up to date on all the new innovations in information technology.

Mr. Atikur Rahman, Assistant Professor and Head of Computer Science and Engineering Department, and Dr. Asif Iqbal, Associate Professor and Head of Electronics and Telecommunication Department and other respected teachers from different departments were present in the seminer. Speakers commented that women skilled and knowledgeable in information technology can protect themselves from the negative effects.

Internet of Things offers some interesting applications to our lives easier.  IoT is the connection of objects (things) to the Internet and these objects can collect and exchange data over the Internet and with each other. The internet of things (IoT) has made the world more efficient, convenient and enjoyable. Keeping that in mind, Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) has arranged an ICT camp focused on IOT workshop. The workshop was attended by thirty students from  EEE and CSE department of the University. 

Participants were trained in ten hands-on projects on Arduino, Raspberry Pi and IoT. This workshop was conducted by BDOSN program coordinator Michal Islam and BDOSN volunteer Priman Chowdhury.

Grace Hopper Girls' Programming Camp has organized by Bangladesh Open Source Network at at the International Islamic University, Chittagong in 24 July, 2019. 35 female graduates participated on this camp. The camp is organized throughout the day to enhance the skills of women in information technology. Prominent teachers of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering Prof. Md. Shamsul Alam and IIUC Computer Club President Tanvir Ahsan were present as the chief guests. Students learnt about the basic concepts of programming at the camp. 

It is to be noted that this camp was organized under the three year long program "Enabling Sustainable Development Goals for Bangladesh for 2030" of Bangladesh Open Source Network. 

Bangladesh open Source Network (BdOSN) is a non-profit, voluntary organization. It was launched in 2005 in Dhaka and registered at Registrar of Joint Stock Companies of Bangladesh under Societies Act. Currently it is implementing a three years project titled ‘Enabling Sustainable Development Goals of Bangladesh for 2030-BdOSN’ from April 2019 – March 2022. Under this project BdOSN is inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) for Vendor Enlistment with the below details.

Invited by:

Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN), Sheltech Niribili, 210/2, Elephant Road, Dhaka-1205. 

Contact Person: Admin & Accounts Officer; Telephone: 01670308034, 01714117478

Date & Time of issue of Enlistment Schedule:

From 22 July to 31 July 2019 On 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Except Monday).

The two-day machine learning workshop ended in 13 July, 2019 at the campus of the World University of  Bangladesh on the Green Road in the capital. A team of 35 engineers working in the ICT sector participated in this workshop. This workshop was organized by iPay Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Open Source Network. LinkedIn Data Scientist Dr. Badrul Munir Sarwar has been trained at the workshop.

Machine learning is widely used in the creation of intelligent systems in tech organizations worldwide. The most important topics of machine learning are discussed in the hands on workshop. In these two days there was a great depth discussion about the use of machine learning in the industry.

Nibras and Rakib, a researcher at ICDDRB, who participated in the workshop said, this workshop is directly related to my ongoing projects. I think I can apply the knowledge from the workshop there.

Munir Hasan, General Secretary, Bangladesh Open Source Network said that this workshop was organized to enhance machine learning and skilled engineers on machine learning in Bangladesh.

At the workshop, BDOSN General Secretary Munir Hassan, Zakaria Swapan, CEO of iPay, Cazi Hassan Robin, Head of CSE Department of the World University of Bangladesh, were present.

The day-long ICT camp, a three-day Grace Hopper Girls Programming Camp and Career Talk, organized for university students has concluded at the Central Women's University in the capital. The Bangladesh Open Source Network and Central Women's University jointly organized these activities.

These camps are organized to give a clear idea of ​​the necessary skills that need to be taken before entering the workplace. On July 16, 2019, the Grace Hopper Girls Programming Camp was organized with 33 women students of Computer Science and Engineering Department. Students participate in a programming contexts at the end of the camp. On the last day of the ceremony, the certificate was handed over to contestants and winners.

On 17th July, ICT Camp was organized with huge potential for women in the field of information technology. 36 women students participated in this camp. Mr. M Masum Billah, Deputy Program Manager, Outreach and Communication Department, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), conducted the seminar on "Social Media Opportunities and Challenges" in the camp. In addition, Asad Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer, Virtuonic Solution and Bike.com, conducted a session on Digital Marketing. At the end of the camp, a session is organized on the graphics design.

On July 18, a career talk was organized with 41 women students of the University. Dr. Nova Ahmed, Professor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North South University, spoke to the students. She said, most of the women students of the science and engineering department are absent in the work place. Only the will of these missing daughters can make them desired to come forward.

It is to be noted that, in order to encourage women in information technology and to increase their participation in the field of information technology, these camps are organized by the Bangladesh Open Source Network under "Enabling Sustainable Development Goals for Bangladesh – ESDG4BD" project. Manuser Jonno Foundation is looking into the overall development of the project. BdOSN will arrange similar camps at different places of the country under this three-year project.

On Friday, June 28, Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Daffodil International University and entrepreneurship program of Bangladesh Open Source Network (BDOSN) “Chakri Khujbo Na Chakri Debo” jointly organized a program for the 5th time to honor the young entrepreneurs.

Preity Waresa, Director of “Chakri Khujbo na Chakri Debo” said, on the basis of the working performance in 2018, 19 entrepreneurs have been honored. Group coordinator Promi Nahid said that more than 200 nominations were elected by the Judges and out of them, eight new entrepreneurs and nine entrepreneurs have been selected for the prize.

IPDC Managing Director Maminul Islam, Managing Director of Sohoz Dot Com, Maliha Kadir, Country Manager of Marks and Spencer Swapna Bhowmick, EPB Secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, Chittagong Commissioner of Tax Commissioner Badal Syed, Principal of Skity handed over the honor to the entrepreneurs in this program.

FM Plastic Industries Limited, Skylark Software Limited and Pridezoom sponsored this year. Beside this, Amar Pay, Ideal Publications, Alpha Printers, AR Communication, BD Venture Limited, Vijkop, Desi Biker, E-Courier Limited, Focus Frame, Pharmacon, IPDC Finance Limited, Kori Dot Com, Mars Printing, Nirvijal, Okhanei dot com, Priyoshop, protractor, PTRC, Rocket courier, source of product, citizen, startup grind, startup hurdle, SME VAI, Tan, wallet Mix, Soukhin by Kanon, Paratik Food & Beverage, WP developers and Zishan food cooperates in this event.

In 2018 Entrepreneur Award was received by BD Assistant Limited, Hotel Tropical Daisy, Nexpark Limited, Elgomatrix, Garner Theory Ltd, Shopnojatra, Hellotask and Amar Room Dot Com.

Shubab Leather, Digisoft Technologies, Rangpur Sources, Suddho Krishi, Doyita, Jute Crafts Industries, People's Footwear and Leather Goods, Prime IT Limited and Pridesys IT Limited received the entrepreneurship memorabilia.

Among the creative entrepreneurs, Sajogoj was honored with the Nurul Kader Award and the workshop entrepreneur Rupagram Agro farm was given Yusuf Chowdhury Award.

Women students pledge to represent Bangladesh as a proficient programmer in the world market

Work means problem solving. Programming is now universally accepted in the world market as a method of solving problem rather than traditional practice. Now the demand for manpower is increasing that can represent Bangladesh in the programming world. But in the field of programming in Bangladesh the presence of men is noticed, but the number of women programmers is relatively small. That's why, Bangladesh Open Source Network organizes several programming camps across the country with the aim of increasing the participation of female students in programming and the development of skilled women programmers.

In its continuation, the three-day 'Grace Hopper Girls’ Programming Camp' was organized jointly by the Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Asia Pacific (UAP) and Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) in Dhaka. About 30 women students of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of the university participated in this three-day camp held on 28th and 29th June and 6th July.

Starting on June 28th, from two days students learned about the basic issues of programming. From morning on 6 July they learned the essentials for participating in programming contests and participated in a programming contest from 2pm on that day. On 7th July, on the campus of the University, a certificate was handed over to the participants and to the winner of programming contests through a unique closing ceremony by Bilkis Jamal Ferdousi and General Secretary of BdOSN Munir Hasan.

Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering,UAP, Bilkis Jamal Ferdousi said for the coming students to the closing ceremony that for sustainable development of information technology girls need programming skills as well as male students. Munir Hassan, General Secretary, BdOSN said that it is important to learn coding in any aspect of the practical life. Because the programming teaches how to solve a big problem with small breaks. "

Prior to this, Farjana Islam Shashi, a third year student of computer science and engineering department of the university, participated in different programming contests. She was missing the fun of doing programming. She said, "Coming to the camp, the difficulty of programming has been cut short ". She dreamed of presenting Bangladesh to a large organization like Google in future.

It is to be noted that in order to encourage women and increase the participation of women in the field of information technology, the camp organized by the Bangladesh Open Source Network under "Enabling Sustainable Development Goals for Bangladesh - SDG4BD" project. Manuser Jonno Foundation is looking into the overall development of the project. Under this three-year project, similar camps will be organized at different places in different phases of the country.