Bangladesh Wins First Gold In IMSO 2026

Marking a historic milestone in international STEM problem-solving and basic scientific acumen, Bangladesh has clinched its first-ever gold medal at the 23rd International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO). Competing against more than 400 primary-tier students across 23 countries, 15 out of 16 young Bangladeshi contenders bagged medals, amassing a collective haul of 1 gold, 7 silver, and 7 bronze medals.

According to institutional sources, the competition concluded on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, after running from October 2 in West Java, Indonesia. The historic gold was secured in the science category by Tahmid Hasan, a sixth-grade student of Manarat Dhaka International School and College. Tahmid achieved the top global score in the theoretical science segment, finishing fifth overall across all participating nations.

The national science contingent secured 1 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze medals, placing Bangladesh sixth among 15 medal-winning nations, trailing only Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Silver medals were earned by Abhigyan Roy Golpo, Mohammad Mushrif Alam, Raiyan Afrad, and Arham Abid. Bronze medals went to Rafsan Shafiq Talukdar and Sahabi Ibne Kabbo. Notably, Mushrif and Raiyan were among the youngest participants as fourth graders. Fellow participant Md. Miftahul Islam missed a bronze by a margin of only 1.25 points.

In the mathematics division, all eight participants from St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in Dhaka secured medals, achieving an unbroken record with 3 silver and 5 bronze medals. Leading the math contingent, Arijit Saha scored the highest to take silver, narrowly missing gold by a few points. The other two silver medals were clinched by Ihan Abrad Rahman and Md. Samin Saif. Bronze medals were awarded to Md. Nabi Hossain, Ali Omar, Sharaf Bin Anwar, Md. Shahid Morsalin, and Irtish Zayed Liam.

Arijit stated, "My preparation was quite solid this time and I expected a gold medal. However, neither the short-answer nor the comprehensive section went as expected, although the exploration part went quite well." Aiming for upcoming IJSO and IMO circuits, he plans to pursue advanced higher studies in mathematics and physics.

Team Leader Tanveerul Islam, Science Coach Meem Naz Rahman, and Math Coach Samira Sumaiya congratulated the cohorts. Meem Naz Rahman stated, "Winning a silver medal last year on our debut was beyond expectations. Therefore, our target this year was the gold. Preparation began late last year, and after team selection, we arranged more classes and mock exams than before. This achievement stems from the dedication of the competitors, the hard work of the parents, and constant mentoring. We aim for even better results next year."

The national participation was steered by the Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN), Society for the Popularization of Science, Bangladesh (SPSB), and MASLab.

Munir Hasan, President of BdOSN and SPSB, stated, "For over two decades, Bangladeshi students have been competing in global olympiads. From mathematics to physics, informatics, science, and AI, our students now regularly prove their mettle on international stages. We are consistently taking our students abroad. I believe the time has come for the next step—Bangladesh itself must host a major international olympiad."

He added, "Hosting an international event like the IMSO in Bangladesh will not only benefit our students, but also bring talented children, teachers, and academicians from around the world to our country. Our students will gain firsthand exposure to global competition, friendship, and cultural exchange on home soil. Government cooperation is essential for this. I draw the attention of relevant ministries and agencies—taking the initiative now can enable Bangladesh to host an international olympiad within the next few years."

//DBTech/Tanveerul Islam/MSI/BPO//