Fatema Akter Shahnaz, a 10th-grade student at Naihati Secondary Girls’ School situated at Rupsha in Khulna, is passionate about motors and circuits. Her excitement knew no bounds when, after coding, her programmed motor car successfully followed the track. Meanwhile, Maisha, a 9th-grade student from Comrade Ratansen Collegiate Girls’ High School, and her classmates were thrilled to have successfully solved all programming challenges using Scratch.
Fatema, Maisha, and over 200 female students from six secondary schools in Rupsha Upazila participated in this year’s STEM Fest, a celebration of science, technology, and innovation. Organized under the “STEM and ICT Skills for the Girls of Coastal Areas” project, the event took place at Naihati Secondary Girls’ School, featuring a programming contest, science project exhibition, poster presentations on innovative ideas, and a robotics competition.

Since 2023, the project has been conducting skill development workshops to equip female students in Rupsha with technological and scientific problem-solving abilities, preparing them for future career opportunities in STEM fields. This festival was a continuation of that effort, aiming to encourage young girls to engage in scientific and technological innovation.
The students showcased around 18 science projects and 30 poster presentations, covering topics like home-made water purification devices, automatic sensor lights, sustainable smart cities, safe homes, global warming, and environmental protection. Additionally, they participated in a robotics challenge, programming line-following robots, and Scratch programming contests.
The closing ceremony, conducted by Project Manager Shakhira Afroze, was attended by teachers, local representatives, and distinguished guests, including Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Akash Kumar Kundu, education enthusiast Sukhen Roy, and Bangladesh Open Source Network (BDOSN) Executive Member Nasir Khan Saikat.
After visiting the students’ science projects and posters, UNO Akash Kumar Kundu remarked,
“If mathematics is presented in an engaging way, coastal girls can excel in technology. Regular practice will open new doors of possibilities for them.”
During the closing session, winners from five categories were awarded medals and prizes in recognition of their outstanding contributions.
The event was organized by Bangladesh Freedom Foundation (BFF) and BDOSN, with sponsorship from the Malala Fund.