Youths to play role in dealing with disaster management
Staff Reporter :
Speakers at a discussion hoped that the country’s youth generation will play vital role in dealing with disaster management in days to come.
They came up with the remarks while speaking at a prize giving ceremony of Hackathon on “Forewarn Disaster Hackathon 1.0” organized by FOREWARN Bangladesh and Open Mapping Hub-Asia Pasific under the supervision of the international humanitarian organization Start Network at a city hotel on Thursday.
The primary object of the Hackathon was to generate and create opportunities for talented and technology-oriented youth in the country to contribute to proactive disaster management.
The first ever disaster themed Hackathon was conducted over a span of three months in Bangladesh and the competition ended on Thursday.
The organizer awarded eight best teams at the event.
Christina Bennett, the CEO of the Start Network, presided over the event while Prof Dr Hafiza Khatun, Vice-Chancellor of the Pabna University of Science and Technology, and Nama Budhathoki, Regional Director of the Open Mapping Hub-Asia Pacific, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Teams from institutions, including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, BUET, IUT, Rajshahi University, Pabna University of Science and Technology, participated in the competition.
In the competition, students showcased how technology and innovative solutions could be employed in disaster management in Bangladesh.
The competition awarded best eight teams out of 37 among which Islamic University of Technology students secured the first prize of supply Chain Management using block chain technology, while Pabna University of Science and Technology students won the first runners-up position through disseminating necessary information about disasters using a messenger chatbot.
The team from BUET secured the third position with their Flash Flood Early Warning System.
Expressing her appreciation, Christina Bennett said that it is a commendable initiative which could accelerate innovation at scale creating the space of greater collaboration in humanitarian sector.
Prof Hafiza Khatun said that Bangladeshi youths will be able to play a crucial role alongside the government and humanitarian community through innovative initiatives.
