‘Support from govt needed to win gold'

Anticipation was running high as the clock was ticking. A group of four Bangladeshi contestants at International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2018 nearly stopped breathing as they eagerly waited to hear their country's being called out on the winning list.

However, that excitement  began to turn to disappointment when after announcement of 40 countries, there was no mention of Bangladesh. The team was giving up hope of getting any award this year.

Suddenly, to their surprise, the name of Bangladesh was announced and along with it, the name of Auddithio Nag (an O-level student of SFX Greenherald International School in Dhaka) was declared as a bronze medal winner.

“It was one of my proudest moments,” said Auddithio, who participated in the competition for the first time.   

His teammates were Prokriti Projukti, from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in Dhaka; Bayezid Mia, from International Turkish Hope School in Dhaka; and Tamzid Hossain Tanim Government MM City College in Khulna.

A press conference was held yesterday at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) where Auddithio expressed his gratitude to his team members who helped him throughout the journey.

Under the guidance of a committee of Bangladesh Biology Olympiad (BdBO), the team competed in the event from July 15 to 22.   

“My teammates helped me a lot. Even before the exam day, they helped me with solving problems,” said Auddithio.

Lauding their success, President of BdBO, Shahidur Rashid Buiyan, said, “It is a significant success for us, as we have managed to win bronze within couple of years. With more support from the government, the next team may even win gold for Bangladesh.”

Urging the Bangladesh government to support the BdBO directly, he said that education ministries of different countries, including India and Sri Lanka, provide necessary support to participants in different Olympiads.   

The participants said that some equipment at the Olympiad were entirely new for them, and it was challenging.

“At school, practical exams in biology are not really emphasised, so students face problems when they go to international competitions,” said Prokriti, one of the participants.

This year, a total of 71 countries took part in the IBO.      

BdBO has been participating in IBO since 2015. Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad (BdMO) and Bangladesh Physics Olympiad (BdPhO) teams also participate in respective international Olympiads.

Bangladesh has been participating in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) since 2005 and won its first medals (bronze) in 2009. Just a few weeks back, Ahmed Zawad Chowdhury won the first gold medal for Bangladesh at the 59th International Mathematical Olympiad.

Bangladesh first competed in International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in 2011 and won its first medal (bronze) in 2012.