Robolife Triumphs at Telecom and Tech Innovation Fair 2025
Robolife Technologies has secured first place at the Telecom and Digital Innovation Fair 2025 by showcasing a prosthetic hand controlled through Electromyography (EMG) signals, offering mobility solutions for persons with disabilities. The winning team, led by Lavlu Barua, received a prize cheque of BDT 300,000 for their innovation.
Edotco Bangladesh earned both second and fifth places through two separate initiatives. One demonstrated a green telecom tower made from bamboo and the use of existing electric poles for telecom tower installation, while the other, titled Uber Power Car, ensures power supply to telecom towers or BTS stations during load-shedding.
Grameenphone’s GP Accelerator ranked third by creating a comprehensive platform connecting startups with essential resources, training, and potential investors. EBitans secured the fourth position for developing a rapid e-commerce website builder tailored to small and cottage entrepreneurs.
The day-long exhibition was held on Wednesday, July 23, at the BTRC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. Among 32 shortlisted initiatives—selected from 76 nationwide ideas—the top five projects were awarded at the closing ceremony.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury handed over the prize cheques to the winners. The second prize carried BDT 150,000, the third BDT 100,000, the fourth BDT 75,000, and the fifth BDT 50,000.
The closing ceremony began with a one-minute silence in memory of the students killed and injured in the tragic aircraft incident at Milestone School and College in Uttara.
In his address as the chief guest, ICT Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury stated, “If innovative ideas based on everyday challenges are commercialized, they can play a pivotal role for the nation and its people.” He emphasized that three ICT Division institutions are working to ensure productive utilization of government funding for startups and reiterated full support for participants with promising ideas.
Postal and Telecommunication Secretary (in routine charge) Zahurul Islam appreciated the fair's participants, saying, “The future society will be knowledge-driven. Our creativity, ideas, and innovation capacity will take the nation forward.” He added that innovation can reduce unemployment and poverty in the country while accelerating development in the telecom and digital sectors.
BTRC Chairman Major General (Retd.) Md. Emdad Ul Bari noted, “Over the last two and a half decades, telecom development was mainly about connectivity. With 180 million mobile and 130 million internet users, we now live in a data-centric era. Yet, data is not being used productively.” He stressed that innovation is not just about advanced technology but how that technology can impact the broader population.
In his closing remarks, BTRC Commissioner (Spectrum Division) Mahmud Hossain said, “Out of 76 submissions, 32 innovative ideas were shortlisted. These will contribute to advancing Bangladesh's telecom and ICT sectors.” He announced the establishment of an Innovation Lab at BTRC to support aspiring entrepreneurs and assured full regulatory assistance from the Commission.
The event was also attended by BTRC Vice-Chairman Md. Abu Bakar Siddique, other senior officials, participants, and representatives from various telecom and IT companies.
