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Bangla Press Desk: A vibrant gathering of young science enthusiasts turned the campus of Udayan Higher Secondary School into a hub of innovation, as hundreds of students showcased their creativity and scientific ambition at a three-day science carnival in the capital.
Though young in age, the participating students displayed remarkable vision and determination, presenting over a hundred innovative projects aimed at addressing global challenges. These ranged from urban planning, agricultural modernisation, water purification, and carbon dioxide filtration to environmental protection and space research.The event drew participation from around 600 students representing 41 educational institutions.The 43rd edition of the science carnival concluded on Thursday (9 April) with an award distribution ceremony. The closing day witnessed a large turnout of students, teachers, and parents, all eager to explore the diverse range of projects on display.
One of the standout exhibits was a “Mars Rover” project developed by a team of three ninth-grade students—Arghya Ojha, Himadri Baroi Ruhan, and Shovon Dey Shuvro. The young innovators expressed their ambition to explore the planet Mars through their creation.
“We want to become scientists,” said Arghya Ojha, adding that their interest in astronomy inspired the project. “We faced repeated failures—battery issues, motor breakdowns—but after many attempts, we succeeded. If companies like SpaceX led by Elon Musk can aim for Mars missions, why can’t Bangladesh? Through this project, we want to contribute to space exploration and showcase our country’s potential to the world.”
Another notable project titled “Face Recognition Attendance System” secured third place. Developed by eleventh-grade students Rahat Khan and Tarek Bin Jihad, the system allows students to mark attendance using facial recognition through mobile devices. The data is recorded automatically, eliminating the need for traditional attendance registers.
The students explained that such a system is not yet widely used in educational institutions and could simplify attendance tracking while enabling centralised data collection by teachers.
According to organisers, the carnival featured 600 participants in the Olympiad segment and 172 innovative project submissions, making it the largest edition to date. Olympiad President Md Yeamin Abdullah Dhrubo described the programme as highly festive and competitive, expressing hope that future editions would be even larger.
Acting principal Muhammad Arifur Rahman emphasised the importance of such initiatives in fostering scientific curiosity and innovation among students.
“We want to inspire knowledge-seeking and creative thinking,” he said. “Students are not just competing within Bangladesh—they are competing globally. Science fairs and extracurricular activities play a vital role in preparing them for that challenge.”
The closing ceremony was attended by Vice-Chancellor of United International University, Prof Dr Md Abul Kashem Mia, as the chief guest. Among other attendees were Khalilur Rahman, senior vice president of UCB Stock Brokerage, and Prof Dr Shah Miran of University of Dhaka, along with several other distinguished guests.
The three-day event was supported by media partners including Daily Khoborer Kagoj, Daily Sun, online portal Dhaka Post, and Jamuna Television.
