The New Nation - Internet Edition

The ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ACM-ICPC) 2008, hosted by North South University (NSU) at Dhaka Site, ended with Fudan University of China as the winner, and BUET, Dhaka University and NSU securing the second through fourth position out of a total of 82 teams.

Dr Zafar Iqbal announced the ranking of the winners. The top teams will take part in the world finals in Stockholm, Sweden in April 2009.

The BUET Vice Chancellor Dr AMM Shafiullah inaugurated the event on November 7 last at NSU campus.

Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, gave away the awards as the chief guest at the concluding ceremony at a local restaurant on November 8. The Bangladesh Bank Governor pledged that BB would support for the development of ICT based computer programming firms.

He mentioned that the country could earn huge foreign currency by exporting software and provide career and financial incentives to young and talented computer programmers.

He cited Hyderabad and Bangalore in India as examples of key software hubs. NSU Foundation Chairman MA Awal and NSU Vice Chancellor Dr Hafiz GA Siddiqi attended as special guest and guest of honor respectively. Dr M Zafar Iqbal, Shahriar Manzoor, Dr M Kaykobad and Dr Abul L Haque, Computer Science stalwarts, spoke on the occasion. NSU Foundation members MA Kashem and Mrs Yasmin Kamal were also present.

The NSU Foundation Chairman expressed his satisfaction at the rapid growth of information and communication technology in the country and the growing interest of the students in this sector. Dr Siddiqi said that Bangladesh had the potential for development, production and export of software and a contest such as this offers a chance to test knowledge and skills of budding local programmers.