Disaster Hackathon 2.0 – the second iteration of Hackathon 1.0 – has marked the beginning of a five-month programme, aimed at engaging the country's tech-savvy young people and their contribution in disaster management.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal inaugurated the “Disaster Hackathon 2.0” on Wednesday evening.
The opening ceremony of this competition was organised virtually in Abdul Matin Chowdhury class room adjacent to the vice-chancellor’s office at the university, read a press release issued Thursday.
Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal said, “Climate change is a global issue, and Bangladesh frequently experiences extreme weather events such as cyclones and flash floods, that have a negative impact on both our lives and economy. Our actions are crucial if we want to build resilience.
“The Disaster Hackathon 2.0 provides an ideal opportunity for students to make a positive impact on society and lessen the aftermath of natural disasters. During this Hackathon, students work in groups to find answers to specific issues related to disasters.”
Pabna University of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hafiza Khatun attended the inauguration ceremony as special guest. She said, “Previously in Hackathon 1.0, two groups from Pabna University of Science and Technology made it to the top 8 out of 35 groups.
“Disaster Hackathon 2.0 will give young people the opportunity to learn new skills and use technology efficiently. Moreover, as the event emphasises teamwork over individual efforts, this opportunity will nurture young talent to achieve the best results.”
The session was chaired by Start Fund Bangladesh Country Manager Sajid Raihan. FOREWARN Bangladesh Chief Coordinator Ashraful Haque presented the details of the competition.
Hackathon 1.0 has progressed to its second level, known as the cultivate stage, where top 15 teams will work with experts from FOREWARN and Start Fund Bangladesh to refine their solutions.
The five-month long Disaster Hackathon 2.0 programme will come to an end in October 2024. During this time, University students will work under the guidance of FOREWARN specialists to design creative disaster management prototypes.
Director General of the Department of Disaster Management Md Mizanur Rahman, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Additional Secretary KM Abdul Wadud, Start Network CEO Christina Bennett, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) Director Md Azizur Rahman, BUET IWFM (FOREWARN expert) Prof Dr Anisul Haque, also attended the event.
FOREWARN Bangladesh in association with “Open Mapping Hub – Asia Pacific” had hosted the first-ever disaster Hackathon 1.0 in Bangladesh on September 15, 2023.
Over 100 teams from public, private, and international institutions participated in Hackathon 1.0, garnered significant interest.
The top 8 teams were selected upon the inventiveness and impact potential of their ideas, which represents a noteworthy advancement in the nation’s preparedness and response to disasters.
The Start Network, comprising over 90 non-governmental organisations from five continents and operates independently of politicians and the media, focuses on helping populations affected by disasters while offering humanitarian aid all over the world.
The national FOREWARN platform launched in Bangladesh on November 4, 2019, to adapt the global FOREWARN model locally, driven by Start Fund Bangladesh and Start Network.
FOREWARN Bangladesh connects experts and humanitarian groups to tackle disaster risk, forecasting, and crisis anticipation, ensuring prompt and effective aid to vulnerable people.
