Brilliant Minds Blaze at bKash-BigganChinta Fest in Khulna

The Khulna regional round of the bKash–BigganChinta Science Festival was held on Friday amid a day-long celebration filled with joy and excitement. Around 550 students from secondary and lower secondary levels across ten districts of the division participated in the event, showcasing their innovative scientific projects and competing in quizzes and science-based speeches.

From a pool of impressive submissions, seven projects featuring a total of 20 participants were selected as the best. In the quiz competition, 10 winners were announced in the lower secondary category and 11 in the secondary category, making a total of 21 winners.

Alongside the project exhibition, the participating students took part in a science quiz competition and science-themed speech sessions. The organizers also arranged a cultural performance and a magic show for the young participants.

More than 60 projects were registered for the exhibition, which continued until 11:30 am. Students from grades six to ten participated in the display, and projects were evaluated by students from various departments of Khulna University.

The regional quiz competition began at 9:30 am, followed by a discussion session at 10:00 am in the school auditorium. At 11:00 am, the event featured a Q&A session, a science magic show, and cultural performances. The festival concluded at noon with a prize distribution ceremony. The magic show was performed by magician Brightstar M. Simon.

During the Q&A session, students’ science-related questions were answered by Professor Kazi Masudul Alam of the Computer Science Discipline, Associate Professor Rinku Majumder of the Physics Discipline, and Lecturer Asifur Rahman of the Chemistry Discipline of Khulna University; Associate Professor Alamgir Hossain of the Physics Department of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET); and Associate Professor Md. Touhidul Islam of the Botany Department at Government Brajalal College, Khulna.

The prize-giving ceremony was attended by writer and translator Ismail Arman, BigganChinta associate editors Uchchhash Tousif and Kazi Akash, and Professor Tuhin Roy of the Sociology Discipline at Khulna University.

According to the organizers, the top 10 quiz winners and the best project teams in each category received certificates, medals, books, science boxes, and various other gifts. The winners will qualify for the national finals to be held in Dhaka, where attractive prizes including laptops and tablets await the top achievers. The next regional round is scheduled to take place in Sylhet on October 25.

The top ten project winners were:
Tahmid Hasan and S. M. Aliul Hossain Ishan (Jessore Education Board School, Grade 10); Sheikh Ayaan Ahmed, Ahnnaf Arib Sayan, and Fahimul Islam Zidan (Navy Anchorage School and College, Grade 9); Jerome Mondol, Maiaj Ibne Mohit, and Arif Shah-Rear (Navy Anchorage School and College, Grade 9); S. M. Zawad Hossain, Rayan Sadiq, and Tanzim Rahman Mahi (Jessore Zilla School, Grade 9); Athena Roy, Bhashyati Mondol, and Rabbi Islam Rony (Khulna University School); Noman Chowdhury, Punam, and Iram (Khulna University School, Grade 9); and Arjun Roy, Surjo Kundu, and Sanrir Rahman Swopni (Khulna University School).

Lower secondary quiz winners included: Jiana Nishat Sultana (Grade 6, Pioneer Girls’ Secondary School); Samiiha Alam (Grade 7, SOS Hermann Gmeiner School); B. M. Arefin Muhit (Grade 7, Government Secondary School); Ayaan Hafiz Ahsan (Grade 8), Samonnoy Mondol (Grade 7), and Moyum Deshnam (Grade 6) from Khulna Public College; Habiba Akhter (Grade 8, Government Iqbalnagar Girls’ Secondary School); Mishbaur Rahman (Grade 8) and Mahadin Ahmed Riman (Grade 7) from Khulna Zilla School; and Sharanya Saha (Grade 8, Navy Anchorage School and College).

Secondary quiz winners were: Arpan Saha and Aritra Debnath (Grade 9, Khulna Zilla School); Aradhya Sarkar Jotno (Grade 9, Government Coronation Girls’ Secondary School); Hasib Mahmud (Grade 10, St. Joseph’s High School); Tanzim Rayhan (Grade 9, Khulna Collectorate Public School and College); Mehrima Doha (Grade 10, Khulna Collegiate Girls’ School); Jinnat Ara (Grade 9, Pioneer Girls’ High School); Arjun Roy (Khulna University School); Kazi Tahmid Alam (Grade 10, St. Joseph’s High School); and Eshan Banerjee and Indrabrata Biswas (Grade 9).