Bangladeshi Girls Shine in the Robot Olympiad in Izmir
A Triumph of Innovation by Two Girls Innovators
Two young innovators carried Bangladesh's red-and-green flag to global recognition at the 21st World Robot Olympiad (WRO) in İzmir, Turkey. Afia Humayra, a student of Bir Shreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College, and Sadia Anjum Pushpo, a student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, led groundbreaking projects that earned international acclaim.
Bangladesh Secures Two Bronze Medals
Bangladesh participated in the competition with four teams, securing two bronze medals in the future innovators category. The teams, Cyber Squad and Change Makers 2024, placed 19th and 37th respectively in the Junior and Senior categories, competing among 45 and 48 global teams. The delegation was led by Munir Hasan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Open Source Network, with mentorship from Maherul Azam Koreshi.
Cyber Squad’s Aqua Master: A Flood-Rescue Innovation
Cyber Squad presented "Aqua Master," a two-story autonomous boat designed to aid rescue operations in flood-affected areas. Equipped with built-in cameras for real-time monitoring, GPS, and remote control functionality up to 15 kilometers, the boat ensures stability with a specialized tank system to resist overturning in strong currents. Instead of conventional propellers. Additionally, it features an emergency chamber stocked with dry food, clothes, medicines, and drinking water for health emergencies.
The prototype was developed by Afia Humayra, alongside teammates Omera Fidan from Feni Girls Cadet College and Nuzhat Jahan from SOS Hermann Gmeiner College. This was their debut on an international stage, following their gold medal win in Bangladesh’s national round earlier this year. According to Humayra, the prototype costs approximately $388 to build, and additional expenses for the international trip were partially covered by their guardians and a school grant of BDT 50,000.
Change Makers’ Wave Saver: Combating Oil Pollution
Change Makers 2024 introduced "Wave Saver," a solar-powered floating robot designed to tackle oil pollution in rivers and seas. The robot uses image processing to detect oil spills and creates circular boundaries to prevent the oil from spreading. It uses impellers, and its solar-powered system offers uninterrupted energy supply
Sadia Anjum Pushpo, the team leader, explained the project’s significance: “Every year, 1.3 million tons of oil pollutes water bodies, affecting 25,000 marine species. Cleaning this costs $16,000 per liter. Our Wave Saver not only prevents oil from spreading but also collects it for reuse, making it cost-efficient and eco-friendly.” The robot, developed with support from Ragib Yasar Rahman of Dhaka Residential Model College and BM Hamim of Government Madan Mohan College, would cost $2,115 to produce.
A Prestigious Global Event
The 2024 WRO, held from November 28–30, centered on the theme Force of Nature, highlighting the use of robotics to mitigate environmental challenges. A total of 87 countries participated with 560 robotics teams, evaluated by 197 judges from 57 nations. The event included 3,150 participants, including three Bangladeshi judges: Sazzad Islam, Redwan Ferdous, and Shihab Sarar Ahmed.
A Journey of Determination and Innovation
The Bangladeshi teams were selected through a rigorous process, starting with the national competition hosted by Southeast University in September 2024. The top performers attended an international preparatory camp organized by Bangladesh Open Source Network, where their projects were refined for the global stage.
With these achievements, the young innovators have proven Bangladesh’s potential in robotics and technology, taking a significant step forward in the international arena.
