Brac University has recently enrolled under scholarships eight whiz kids of mathematics, including three who last month brought glory for Bangladesh winning medals at International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2020.
Held annually at different countries, the mathematical Olympiad for pre-college students is the oldest of the International Science Olympiads.
The first was held in 1959 in Romania with the participation of seven countries. It has gradually expanded to encompass over 100 countries from five continents.
The latest 61st edition was held at the Russian port city of Saint Petersburg last month with a total of 616 participants joining virtually from 105 countries.
The Bangladesh-end of the competition was organised by Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad Committee with support from Dutch Bangla Bank and Bangla daily Prothom Alo.
Of the six-member Bangladesh Team, Ahmed Ittihad Hasib won a Silver medal while Md Maruf Hasan Rubab, Adnan Sadik, M Ahsan Al Mahir, Soumitra Das and Raiyan Jamil Bronze medals.
Mahir, Das and Jamil have gone on to get enrolled in the Fall 2020 session at Brac University.
Hasib got admitted at Oxford University while Rubab is studying in the 12th grade at Ananda Mohan College, Mymensingh and Sadik in the 11th at Notre Dame College.
The remaining five scholarship recipients were among the top 15 contenders of the IMO team selection test. They are Abdullah Al Rafi Mahmud, Atonu Roy Chowdhury, Tanmoy Sarkar, Ananya Shahrin Promi and Swarup Sidhartho Mondol.
Launched in 2019, the Sir Abed Scholarship focuses students who showcase above-average aptitude in national and international Olympiads and contests and extracurricular activities alongside excelling academically.
Leaving all Southeast Asian countries trailing, the Bangladesh Team had also scored its highest-ever 118 points out of 252 to secure 38th position.
Since their first participation in 2005, Bangladeshi students have won 36 medals till date -- one Gold, seven Silver and 28 Bronze. There are another 31 honorable mentions.
All these achievements were made possible under the guidance of the Bangladesh Team coach, Professor Mahbub Majumdar, dean of Brac University’s School of Data and Sciences.
The mathematician and regional coordinator of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says his academic interests are in string theory, early universe cosmology, quantum computing and machine learning.
In the university website he states that one of his primary goals is to “guide the best mathematical and scientific talents in Bangladesh and create a community of extremely capable Bangladeshi mathematicians, theoretical physicists and computer scientists”.
Professor Majumdar has accordingly set his team, which includes lecturers Mirza MD Tanjim Shorif Mugdho and Ipshita Bonhi Upoma who have substantial experience in participating in and coordinating Olympiads.
They comprise a growing number of talented teachers who are opting to stay back in the country and put in the effort to develop the nation’s education and academia through Brac University.
This in turn, alongside the university enabling students to take on double major, has transformed the educational institution into a lucrative destination for the brightest of minds.
The university has also gone on to host the Iranian Geometry Olympiad in 2019 and the Asia Pacific Olympiad 2020. It plans to do the same for the Iranian Geometry Olympiad of 2020.