Droidcon Bangladesh 2025 highlights need for more Android talent

The Android buzz was loud and clear in Dhaka as Droidcon Bangladesh 2025 took over the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) campus in Dhaka recently. Developers, tech enthusiasts, and industry pros gathered for two packed days of learning, networking, and fresh inspiration.

From early morning coffee-fueled keynotes to deep dives on Kotlin Multiplatform, the event didn't waste a second. With 25 international speakers and more than 500 participants from across the globe and the country, the gathering felt like Dhaka's long-overdue comeback to the global Android conversation.

This wasn't your typical tech event with dry speeches and heavy jargon. From casual lightning talks to deep-dive sessions on Kotlin and mobile AI, the vibe was intense but inviting, the kind that makes even beginners feel like they're part of something bigger.

"This is the kind of push we needed," said Shahariar Rahman, an attendee who came with his friends. "The Android app market is growing globally and in Bangladesh too, but the number of professionals working in Android here is still low," he pointed out. "This kind of conference can help encourage more people to join the field."

The conference opened with energy in the air and a packed lineup. Topics ranged from practical sessions on Jetpack Compose to high-level discussions on mobile development trends. Guest panel discussions were a major highlight, featuring seasoned professionals like Raisul Kabir (founder & CEO, Brain Station 23), Md Shah Jalal (senior scrum master at Cheq by Cantaloupe), Mohammad Habib ur Rahman (engineering manager at Dynamic Solution Innovators Limited), and Md Altamis Nabil (head of Managed Services at MIAKI), who shared real-world stories, tips, and lessons from the tech field.

But the real showstopper was on the second day. Sessions on Android security, AI-driven mobile testing, and engineering leadership drew large crowds and sparked spontaneous discussions in the hallways long after they ended. The AI-focused panel brought fresh perspectives from tech leaders like SVP of Engineering at Pathao Abdullah Anwar, Chief of Staff at Shopup MD Ziaul Haque Bhuiyan, VP of Engineering at Zelf Anam Ahmed, and AI Integration Engineer, Emirates NBD, Dubai, UAE Faysal Ahmed, who explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping mobile app development.

The scale of the event felt ambitious, especially considering the last Droidcon in Dhaka happened back in 2017. Since then, the global Android ecosystem has changed dramatically, with 137.8 billion app and game downloads in 2024 alone, and a projected market value of over US$ 623 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, Bangladesh still struggles with a developer shortage, particularly in mobile.

"This event helps young developers understand where they need to grow," said Mohi Us Sunnat, the lead organiser and a senior Android engineer at Native Waves AG, Austria. "Compared to other countries, we still have fewer developers and skill gaps. This conference brings that discussion to light."

The sessions weren't just technical deep-dives, they were career accelerators. Talks about building scalable Android apps, transitioning to Kotlin, and collaborating on open-source projects opened up fresh paths for attendees. The UI/UX panel also brought together design minds like Atiqur Rahaman (CEO and co-founder, Design Monks), Abdullah Al Noman (co-founder and COO, Design Monks), Ahmad Firoz (senior product designer at Goava), and Sashoto Seeam (principal designer, Lifedata, US) to discuss the future of user experience in digital products.

Tamanna Rahman, an undergrad who attended both days, described the experience as enlightening and energising. "This conference was very helpful for people who are working or want to work in Android. Many useful topics were discussed that increased our knowledge."

Flutter developers also found their corner of the spotlight, with seasoned engineers like Walid Ashik, Niaz Ahmed (both from Cheq by Cantaloupe), Momshad Dinury (senior software engineer, Brain Station 23 PLC), and Abu Anwar MD Abdullah (founder, The Flutter Way & Google Developer Expert) sharing insights and tips to sharpen Flutter skills.

Even in casual coffee breaks and during quick lunch breaks at the IUB cafeteria, people were swapping GitHub links, LinkedIn profiles, and project ideas. There was a strong sense that this wasn't just a tech event-it was a community forming in real time.

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