Pahela Baishakh Crowd Turns Broadband Expo into Tech-Fest at BCC

Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla calendar is a public holiday. Dressed up for the occasion, some people went out in groups, while others visited with their families to join the heart of the Baishakh celebration. Many, on their way back from Ramna, stopped by the ongoing Broadband Expo at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Agargaon. As a result, after the afternoon of Tuesday, 14 April, the fairground became crowded with visitors. Pressure increased in the evening. At night, the band Shironamhin and other bands performed music.

The exhibition will conclude on Wednesday, 15 April in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, on the second day of the exhibition, 28 lifetime members of the ISP Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) were honored through a special program. In addition, the current executive committee paid tribute to the previous executive committee (2024–2025) of ISPAB. The event was attended as a distinguished guest by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Commissioner Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Iqbal Ahmed. Also present were ISPAB President Aminul Hakim, Secretary General Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan, and other members of the EC committee.

Organized by the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) under the theme “Linking People, Linking Future,” the Broadband Expo, which began on 13 April, is showcasing internet-related services and solutions across 10 pavilions, 35 mini pavilions, and 20 stalls. However, more than these services, youth interest was focused on the Experience Zone. In this zone, students from various universities displayed around 25 innovative projects based on robotics, IoT, and other technologies.

Among the innovations, UIU’s Aeroponics Vertical Farming project stood out. It is a modern soil-less cultivation method in which roots remain suspended in air and are sprayed with nutrient-rich mist. This technology-based farming model by students of the University of Information Technology and Sciences (UIU) is completely organic. Project lead Rajibul Hasan Badhan said it has been developed in a way suitable for Bangladesh’s climate. Using this technology, full crop production is possible in half the time required by conventional farming. In addition, due to its vertical alignment feature, it requires five times less space. One major advantage is that nearly 50 leafy vegetables can be cultivated within just four square feet of space using this system.

Similarly, young innovator Md. Khalid Hossain participated in the exhibition with various airplane model replicas. Speaking about his project titled “Aerolite,” he said these replicas can be used not only for aesthetic presentation but also for FPV monitoring cameras, remote connection viewing through VR glasses, GPS area mapping, and various agricultural applications.

BRAC University’s Robotics Club also showcased their self-developed Mars Rover, or “Mongol Tori,” at the fair as usual. This special vehicle can operate on rocky and uneven terrain. It also includes features such as soil sample collection. Robotics Club President Tasin Ahsan Hridoy said they are the first in the country to establish a robotics ecosystem. Alongside the Mars Rover, their other flagship projects include “Duburi,” “Onnesha,” “Nabik,” and “Agni Bir.”

DBTech/HHBJ/MUIUM/OR