Staff Reporter :
A new initiative, Disaster Hackathon 2.0, has been launched to develop strategies for dealing with natural threats such as cyclones and flash floods, which significantly affect lives and the economy.
The event, spanning five months and concluding in October 2024, builds on the success of Hackathon 1.0 and aims to engage the country’s tech-savvy youth in disaster management.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal inaugurated the Disaster Hackathon 2.0 virtually at an event held at the university on Wednesday evening.
“Climate change is a global issue, and Bangladesh faces frequent extreme events like cyclones and flash floods, which impact many lives and the economy. To build resilience, we need to take action. Disaster Hackathon 2.0 is perfect for students to contribute to society and help reduce the effects of natural disasters. In this hackathon, students work in teams to solve specific problems related to disasters,” Dr. Maksud Kamal stated.
Prof. Dr. Hafiza Khatun, Vice-Chancellor of Pabna University of Science and Technology, highlighted the success of the previous hackathon. “In Hackathon 1.0, out of 35 groups, 2 from Pabna University of Science and Technology reached the top 8. Now, Disaster Hackathon 2.0 offers young people the chance to gain knowledge and apply technology effectively. This event nurtures young talent to achieve the best results, focusing on teamwork rather than individual efforts,” she said.
Start Fund Bangladesh Country Manager Sajid Raihan presided over the event, while Chief Coordinator of FOREWARN Bangladesh Ashraful Haque presented the keynote paper.
Other notable attendees included Md. Mizanur Rahman, Director General of the Department of Disaster Management, K M Abdul Wadud, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Christina Bennett, CEO of Start Network, Md. Azizur Rahman, Director of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), and Prof. Dr. Anisul Haque, IWFM of BUET (FOREWARN expert).