Bangladesh Sends Talented Teen Team to International AI Olympiad in Beijing

A four-member team from Bangladesh is set to participate in the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) for the second time. The event will be held in Beijing, China, from August 2 to 9, where young talents from around the world will compete on an international stage.

The Bangladesh team includes Misbah Uddin Inan and Abrar Shahid Rahik, both eleventh-grade students of Notre Dame College; Mohammad Riasat Islam, a tenth-grade student of RAJUK Uttara Model School; and Arefin Anwar, an eleventh-grade student from St. Joseph Higher Secondary School.

Among the team members, Misbah Uddin Inan has previously won a silver medal at the IOAI. Since 2021, he has also participated in the International Robot Olympiad, where he earned a gold medal. Fellow team member Riasat Islam is competing in the IOAI for the first time. He is actively involved in his school’s science club, IR club, and Model United Nations activities. Riasat was the second runner-up in the national round of Bangladesh AI Olympiad 2025.

Abrar Shahid Rahik won a bronze medal at the 2024 edition of IOAI and previously secured both gold and silver medals in the 2022 International Robot Olympiad. Meanwhile, Arefin Anwar achieved a silver medal in the 2024 IOAI and has been a participant in the International Robot Olympiad since 2020, winning gold in 2022 as well as silver and bronze on various occasions.

The road to this global event began with the launch of Bangladesh AI Olympiad 2025 on February 2. Over 1,000 students registered from across the country. From February to May, a series of online and offline workshops, mock contests, and training sessions were held to test and build participants’ AI knowledge and skills. Leading technology experts, university professors, and professionals from the tech industry served as trainers.

To help students prepare for the competition environment, organizers hosted several preparatory sessions throughout March and April, including a full-fledged mock contest with both quiz and programming segments. On April 30, a programming practice contest was held using a well-known online platform to simulate real competitive conditions.

The regional phase of the Olympiad included an online programming contest on May 3 to assess problem-solving skills, followed by a preliminary AI quiz selection round on May 10.

The national round of Bangladesh AI Olympiad 2025 took place on May 17 at the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT). A key highlight was the machine learning competition, which drew 171 selected participants. Contestants were assessed on their Python programming, data analysis, and model-building abilities. The top 16 performers were chosen for an intensive two-day training camp held on May 23–24 at the Institute of Information Technology (IIT), University of Dhaka.

During the camp, students received advanced training in AI concepts, problem analysis, teamwork, and presentation skills. The final selection of the national team was made based on their performance in a camp evaluation test held on May 31.

These four promising young students will represent Bangladesh on the global stage, showcasing the nation's growing AI talent. The initiative is jointly organized by Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) and BAUBIT, with sponsorship from leading tech companies including RevChat, Brain Station 23, Intelligent Machines, and Creative IT Institute. Kishor Alo and BigganChinta, two popular science-focused youth publications, partnered with the event.