Chittagong University wins championship title

The Network of Young Biotechnologists of Bangladesh has organised the Bangladesh National Biotechnology Thesis Presentation Contest - 2024 for the first time. The final round of the competition took place on December 20, 2024, Friday, at the Central Kochi Kacha Auditorium in Dhaka. It is noteworthy that earlier, students from 27 universities in Bangladesh showcased their master's thesis research on biotechnology in the preliminary round. From there, the top seven contestants were selected to present their thesis in the final round. These contestants presented their research on the use of biotechnology in cancer diagnosis, autism detection, waste management, mosquito control, dye production in factories, diarrhoea, food contamination, and food security.

The finalists were Ahmed Zubayer from Khulna University, Saifullah Jamil from University of Dhaka, Mohammad Al Beruni from University of Chittagong, Tanjin Barketullah from Sylhet Agricultural University, Sunbin Samin from Jahangirnagar University, Md Imtiaz from the Jashore University of Science and Technology, and Mahmuda Haque from BRAC University. The judges for the competition included Dr Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, a renowned senior scientist and head of One Health Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division at icddr,b.,Dr Md Rezaul Karim, chairman of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at Jahangirnagar University, Dr Miraz Kobab Chowdhury, faculty member of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Dhaka, Dr Adnan Mannan, faculty member of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Chittagong, Dr Md Zahid Hassan, faculty member of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at Jagannath University and Dr Hamed Hussain, faculty member of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of East West University.

Mohammad Al Beruni of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of the University of Chittagong became the champion by presenting a thesis on using genetic engineering for autism diagnosis. Tanjin Barketullah, who presented a new technology for mosquito control, was the runner-up. Ahmed Zubayer secured the third position. Pro-vice Chancellor of Noakhali Science and Technology University Professor Mohammad Razuanul Hoque attended the prize distribution ceremony as the chief guest. The opening speech was delivered by the main event coordinator and Vice-president of Event and Planning of NYBB, Ragib Muttaqee. Arif Khan, scientific officer at IEDCR and CEO of NYBB also spoke.The event was supported by the Disease Biology and Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Chittagong, and Cancer Care and Research Trust Bangladesh (CCRT).