600 students join national stage of junior science olympiad

The national round of the Bangladesh Junior Science Olympiad (BdJSO), the country's largest science event for school students, was held on Friday (5 September) at the campus of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) in Dhaka.

More than 600 students participated in the event, which commenced with the national anthem and a balloon release. Throughout the day, attendees engaged in various activities before the programme concluded with a prize-giving ceremony in the afternoon.

A total of 60 winners were announced at the national stage, with one champion named in each category for the first time. Bihan Pal of Ideal School and College (Class IX) was crowned champion in the secondary category; Jyotirmoy Biswas of Bhola Nath Bishweshwar Hindu Academy, Rajshahi (Class VIII) in the junior category; and Ahanaf Adib of St Joseph International School (Class V) in the primary category.

After the competition, students attended a robotics and drone show, where experts demonstrated the operation of the devices. A question-and-answer session followed. One participant asked, "If chlorophyll from a leaf enters the human body, will people turn green?" Professor Dr Mushtaque Ibne Ayub of Dhaka University's Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Department responded, "That will never happen. Chlorophyll needs a specific process to function."

Following a lunch break, a cultural program featuring magician Swapan Dinar took place, preceding the awards ceremony, which began at 3 pm.

IUBAT Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abdur Rob Miah, chief guest at the closing, said: "Today's students are proving their skills not just in textbooks but also in technology and innovation. They are identifying social and national problems and seeking solutions, which is truly commendable."

Special guest Md Rafat Ullah Khan, acting Managing Director of Al-Arafah Islami Bank, emphasised the importance of science, saying: "Every advancement in today's world is driven by science. Students should embrace research and innovation with a scientific mindset. Each of your achievements makes us proud and gives us hope for the future."

Also present were Bangladesh Freedom Foundation Executive Director Sajjadur Rahman Chowdhury, Al-Arafah Islami Bank Senior Vice-President Jalal Ahmed, EVP and Zonal Head of Dhaka North Md Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh Science Popularisation Society President Munir Hasan, its General Secretary Dr Farseem Mannan Mohammadey, and IUBAT Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology Professor Md Monirul Islam.

Of the 60 national winners, 10 were from the primary category, 28 from junior, and 22 from the secondary category. Each champion received a trophy, while other winners were awarded medals, certificates, and attractive prizes.

Around 60 top students from the national round will later attend the BdJSO Camp for intensive training, from which six finalists will be selected to represent Bangladesh at the 22nd International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in Russia this December. Since 2015, Bangladesh has regularly fielded teams at the IJSO.

This year's Olympiad followed extensive outreach across more than 50 districts since July, with over 150 institutions hosting promotional workshops. A record 17,000 students registered nationwide, with participants advancing through online preliminaries and regional rounds before competing in the national event.

As in previous years, the BdJSO was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Science Popularisation Society and Bangladesh Freedom Foundation. The main sponsor was Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC, with IUBAT serving as the platinum sponsor and host. Kishor Alo and Biggan Chinta were magazine partners, while Maslab and Rokomari acted as supporting partners.