The Central Women's University (CWU) in Dhaka hosted its second Maths Olympiad for female college students of Dhaka South zone on Thursday.
Organized by the university’s department of computer science and engineering, the Bellissimo-CWU Maths Olympiad 2018 was jointly inaugurated by CWU Vice-Chancellor Dr Perween Hasan and Bangladesh Open Source Network General Secretary Munir Hasan Thursday morning.
A total of 67 students from 12 colleges – including Central Women’s College, Shere-e-Bangla Girls’ College, Metropolitan College, Siddheswari Government College, Rokeya Ahsan University College, AK High School and College, Mirza Abbas Women’s Degree College, Motijheel Model School and College, Munshi Abdur Rouf College, and Dhaka Mohanogor Mohila College – took part in the Olympiad.
Central Women’s College student Mehrin Tasfia won the Olympiad, Siddheswari Government College student Kamroon Salayheen Trina was the first runner-up, and Metropolitan College student Jannatul Naiem Mitul was the second runner-up in the competition.
Five other participants were given complimentary awards.
Prof Dr M Kaykobad of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) handed out the awards at the prize distribution ceremony.
Prof Dr M Kaykobad hands over the winner's prize to Central Women’s College student Mehrin Tasfia at the prize giving ceremony of the Bellissimo-CWU Maths Olympiad 2018 in Central Women's University, Dhaka on Thursday, September 27, 2018 | Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune
In his inaugural speech, Munir Hasan said: “We first participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in 2005, with four male and two female contestants. The same thing happened the following year. However,we had only one female participant and five male ones until 2011."
But since 2012, there have been no female contestants from Bangladeshat the IMO, Munir said. “I want to see at least four female contestants participate in the IMO by 2022,” he added.
“We are trying to arrange a [nationwide] Girls' Olympiad this year, and send a team of female contestants to the European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad,” Munir said.
Addressing the participants, Prof Kaykobad said that in order to become a learned society, the highest priority must be given to education.
“There is a lot of fun in finding solutions to problems. This develops your critical thinking skills and it is a great brain exercise, which will help develop our future,” he said.
“I am very impressed by events like this and expect to see more such events in the future. We must increase our self-confidence. The CWU Maths Olympiad is a step forward towards the success of girls,” Kaykobad added.
Kazi Food Industries Ltd CEO Tanvir Haider Chaudhury said, to win the competition one needs courage as well as talent.
