Texverse 2.0 at BUTEX: Students From Over 25 Universities Compete in Eight Categories

The inter-university textile innovation and research competition 'Texverse 2.0' has been held at Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX). The BUTEX Science Club organised the daylong competition on the BUTEX campus on Friday (October 30).

The competition, which began at 8 am, was held across the university's auditorium, seminar rooms, academic buildings and central field.

Alongside BUTEX students, students from more than 25 public and private universities and textile colleges across the country took part. The competition was held in eight categories aimed at developing students' innovative thinking, analytical skills, creativity and technical knowledge: maths olympiad, treasure hunt, quizard, poster presentation, case competition, AI-based video making, essay writing and project exhibition.

BUTEX Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Julhas Uddin attended as chief guest. The special guest was Engineer Md Saidur Rahman Said, vice-chairman of the Institution of Engineers' Textile Engineering Division. Also present were Dean of the Faculty of Textile Management and Business Studies Professor Dr Md Ahsan Habib, head of the Apparel Engineering Department Professor Dr Kaniz Farhana, and acting director of student welfare Professor Dr Mahbubur Rahman. Redox Chemicals Limited manager Shariful Islam Nayan and BUTEX Science Club moderator Professor Engineer SK Mohammad Rafi were also present.

In the college section of the maths olympiad, Rakin Shahriar Bin Kabir of St Joseph Higher Secondary School and College placed first, Junaid Labib Al Wasi of Notre Dame College second, and Shakiba Akhtar of Holy Cross College third.

In the university section's treasure hunt, 'Team Incognita' of BUTEX's Wet Process Engineering Department placed first, 'Team Twilights' of Fabric Engineering second, and 'Team Halogen' of Yarn Engineering third. In quizard, 'Team Attack on Quizard' of Apparel Engineering placed first, 'Team Double Trouble' of Yarn Engineering second, and 'Team The Red Army' of Environmental Science and Engineering third.

In poster presentation, BUTEX's 'Team Thrive' placed first, South East University's 'Team Gastric' second, and Uttara University's 'Team Nexus Inventors' third. In the case competition, BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology's 'Team Catalyst' placed first, BUTEX's 'Team The Orpheus' second, and Army Institute of Business Administration's 'Team Un-Thread-tional' third.

In AI-based video making, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology's 'Team The Brainsell' placed first, BUTEX's 'Team Zonex' second, and Dhaka University's 'Team Soda-Pop Dol' third. In essay writing, Anjum Abdullah Tahha of BUTEX placed first, Roaida Binte Ali of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology second, and Md Ariful Haque Naim of the National Institute of Textile Engineering and Research third.

In the project exhibition, BUTEX's 'Team Hab' placed first, World University of Bangladesh's 'Team Eco Pulp BD' second, and World University's 'Team Green Genesis' and BUTEX's 'Team Quantumania' jointly third.

At the event, the chief guest, the vice-chancellor, formally launched the BUTEX Science Club's second annual magazine, 'Kingkol 2.0'. Club president Rubayet Rashid Roni and general secretary KM Shafik Raiyan spoke about the event and the magazine.

Special guest Engineer Md Saidur Rahman Said said effective use of AI and modern technology in the textile industry could raise efficiency and capacity while reducing production costs. There is no alternative to research and innovative thinking, he added.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Julhas Uddin urged students to focus on fundamental research, saying there are wide research opportunities in physics, chemistry, mathematics, environment, waste management and sustainability alongside textile science. The goal of research should be creating fundamental knowledge and inventing something new, not repeating the same research, he said. At the closing ceremony, winners and runners-up received prize money, crests and certificates.