The two-day national science and technology festival “Innovation Bangladesh 2025” commenced on Thursday morning at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), bringing together thousands of young innovators, researchers and technology enthusiasts from across the country.
Sheesh Haider Chowdhury, secretary of the ICT Division, inaugurated the festival at 10am, marking the opening of one of Bangladesh’s largest platforms for science and technology.
Organised by Whiteboard Initiatives with overall support from the ICT Division and A2i, the event transformed the BUET campus into a festive hub of innovation and creativity.
According to the organisers, the festival is expected to attract at least 20,000 visitors and more than 5,000 competitors over the two days. Students have shown keen interest in a wide range of activities including robotics, programming, science Olympiad, research competitions, sketch talks, seminars, startup expos and the flagship innovation expo.
Participants from 110 schools, colleges and universities are showcasing their projects, research and entrepreneurial ideas. The presence of teams from BUET, Dhaka University, KUET, CUET and RUET has turned the programme into a truly national platform for the next generation of technologists.
The Innovation Expo features 50 cutting-edge technologies and 20 emerging startups selected from fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, renewable energy, biotechnology, vehicle technology and space technology.
Mahir Azraf, chairman of Whiteboard Initiatives, said the platform is giving young innovators a rare opportunity to present their concepts in person. He added that the top three innovative projects will receive the Shaheed Tanveen Innovation Award, introduced in memory of Shaheed Zahiduzzaman Tanveen.
One of the biggest attractions is the Dynamic Experience Zone, where students can explore virtual reality, e-sports, drone piloting and various high-tech simulations. The zone remained crowded from the morning as participants flocked to experience the hands-on technologies.
Mohammad Aiman Awsaf, managing director of Whiteboard Initiatives, said around 30,000 students were engaged through a seven-day outreach campaign in 110 institutions in and around Dhaka.
“The participation limit was filled shortly after registration opened, which reflects the enthusiasm of the youth,” he noted.
The closing ceremony will take place on Saturday (15 Nov) at 4pm, with Faiz Ahmed Tayyab, special assistant to the Chief Advisor, attending as the chief guest.
City Bank is the title sponsor of this year’s festival, while MH Group, Prime Bank and Eastern Bank PLC are co-sponsors. The festival runs daily from 10am to 4pm.
Organisers said that events like Innovation Bangladesh will play a vital role in shaping a modern and innovation-driven Bangladesh by promoting national and international branding of local talent, building networks among young innovators, researchers and startups, and enhancing technological skills across the country.
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