Tech-skilled youth will build a prosperous Bangladesh, says Minister

Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Faqir Mahbub Anam, on Saturday said that tech-skilled youth will build a prosperous Bangladesh of the future, emphasizing that there is no alternative to developing skilled human resources in Artificial Intelligence (AI), programming and innovative technologies. He described the National High School Programming Contest as an effective platform for achieving this goal, according to a press statement.

The Minister made the remarks while addressing the prize-giving and closing ceremony of the National High School Programming Contest 2026 as the chief guest at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon, Dhaka.

He said that in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, programming, Artificial Intelligence and innovative technologies have become key drivers of national development. The talent, creativity and problem-solving abilities demonstrated by young students through the competition reflect the immense potential of Bangladesh's technology-driven future.

Organised by the Information and Communication Technology Division and implemented by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), the National High School Programming Contest 2026 recorded a total of 17,839 registrations across five categories comprising quiz and programming events. Following regional competitions, 832 contestants qualified for the national final round in the programming and quiz categories.

Competitions at the national level were held in different groups under the programming and quiz categories. Winners received prizes including laptops, tablets, smartphones and other awards. The Minister also distributed prizes among the winners of the Bangladesh Cyber Security Olympiad 2026.

The closing ceremony was presided over by A T M Ziaul Islam, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Computer Council. Among others, the event was attended by Mohammad Anwar Uddin, Additional Secretary of the ICT Division; Dr. Md. Taiyabur Rahman, Director General of the National Cyber Security Agency; senior government officials, academics, judges, teachers, parents and contestants from across the country.

Addressing the students, he said, "Every innovation begins with a simple question. Therefore, learn to ask questions, observe, experiment and develop the courage to innovate without fearing failure."

The Minister expressed optimism that participants emerging from such competitions would contribute to technological innovation, research and world-class software development, further enhancing Bangladesh's reputation on the global stage.