CA Yunus pledges support for talented students in global olympiads
This year around 70,000 students from across the country participated in the first round, which was conducted online
The government would explore ways to support and promote talented students on the global stage, ensuring they receive further encouragement and recognition, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said today (8 September).
He made the remarks when six medal winners of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) and the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) met him at the State Guest House Jamuna where the students shared their stories and experiences.
"I am very happy to hear from you. You have come this far because of your interest and dedication. We are also inspired by your enthusiasm," said Prof Yunus who listened to each student's experiences and inquired about the difficulties they faced.
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The bronze medal winners are Ariz Anas, South Point School and College; Hameem Rahman, Notre Dame College; Farabid Bin Faisal, Mastermind English Medium School; Jitendra Barua, Chittagong Bakalia Government College; Jawad Hameem Chowdhury, Ideal School and College and Tahsin Khan, Mymensingh Zila School.
Education Adviser CR Abrar, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, President of the Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad Committee and BRAC University Distinguished Professor Dr Mohammad Kaikobad, and the Committee's General Secretary AA Munir Hasan were, among others, present.
The chief adviser urged the Olympiad Committee to share their experiences and future plans during the meeting.
International Olympiads are prestigious competitions where students under the age of 20, who are yet to enter university, compete globally in various subjects such as mathematics and biology.
Referring to past achievements, Education Adviser Abrar said a student from Bangladesh once won gold in the Math Olympiad, competing against participants from 111 countries. "This is a matter of pride for us. Many others have won bronze in mathematics, biology, and other subjects."
He said Olympiad participants become part of a vast international network, which further boosts their enthusiasm.
"Many of them receive scholarships and go on to study at top universities abroad. With more support and encouragement, our students can achieve even greater success," he added.
Prof Kaikobad said this year around 70,000 students from across the country participated in the first round, which was conducted online.
"About 25,000 students qualified for the next round. In later stages, selected students were brought to Dhaka for training camps and problem-solving classes to prepare them for the international competition," he said.
He also said the final team of six was selected to participate in the IMO, which consists of two 4.5-hour-long exams over two days, requiring intense preparation.
"We raised all the necessary funds ourselves, including registration fees, accommodation, and transportation," Prof Kaikobad said, adding, "While a private bank does provide some financial support, it's not enough to cover all the costs."
