The first-ever Bangladesh Formula Student and Automotive Engineering Summit 2026 was held at the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) on Thursday, bringing together students, engineers, industry leaders and policymakers to help advance the country's automotive engineering sector.
Jointly organized by the MIST Formula Student Team and the Bangladesh Formula Student Community, the summit served as the country's first national-level platform dedicated to Formula Student and automotive engineering. The event aimed to strengthen collaboration among academia, industry and policymakers while fostering innovation and skills development in the sector.
More than 2,500 guests and visitors attended the event.
Lt Gen Mir Mushfiqur Rahman, principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, attended the program as the chief guest. Maj Gen Md Hakimuzzaman, commandant of MIST, served as the chief patron, while Brig Gen Mohummad Shariful Islam, head of Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIST, chaired the organizing committee.
The summit featured a series of technical sessions focusing on automotive engineering, Formula Student competitions and the future development of Bangladesh's automotive and original equipment manufacturing (OEM) sector. Discussions brought together industry professionals, senior officials and members of the Formula Student community.
A range of competitions was organized for students, including the Formula Future Business Case Competition, IC Engine Masterclass and Quiz, Formula Student Concept Car Challenge, CAD Design Competition and Poster Presentation.
The summit also featured several attractions, including a car show, go-kart racing and simulator racing. The car show emerged as one of the event's major highlights, showcasing Formula Student racing cars built by university teams alongside high-performance vehicles from renowned automobile brands and private collectors.
Prior to the summit, organizers hosted an online webinar titled “TrackTalk 2026,” where local and international professionals with experience in Formula Student, Formula One and high-performance vehicle development shared their expertise with aspiring engineers.
Organizers said the summit marked a significant milestone for Bangladesh's automotive engineering sector and would promote Formula Student competitions while strengthening collaboration between academia and industry in the years ahead.