16th Chemistry Olympiad held at Comilla University with 638 students taking part

The 16th Chemistry Olympiad for the Cumilla region has been held at Comilla University, aimed at growing students’ interest in chemistry and developing their talent. A total of 638 students from educational institutions in Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur and other districts took part.

The Olympiad was held on Saturday (31 October) afternoon at the university’s Muktamancha, organised by the ‘Rasayan Samiti’, an associate organisation of the chemistry department.

According to the organising committee, 680 students from the Cumilla region had registered for the competition, of whom 638 sat the test.

The event was chaired by the Olympiad’s convener, Professor Dr AKM Royhan Uddin. Former Jahangirnagar University chemistry professor Dr Rabiul Islam attended as chief guest and invited speaker, while Comilla University chemistry department head Professor Dr Md Shahadat Hossain was the special guest. The programme was conducted by the Olympiad’s member secretary, Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Atikur Rahman.

Montachir Bhuiyan, the student who placed second in the Olympiad, said: “To be honest, I was never in a position to be first, second or third in my studies. I consider myself an ordinary student. When I took part, I thought cadet college students were more likely to do well. I did not have high expectations about my own position. But the feeling after placing second was extraordinary. When I told my parents, I could not hold back my emotions.”

In his speech as special guest, Professor Dr Md Shahadat Hossain said chemistry is not confined to reactions and tests in the laboratory; it is connected with every area of daily life, from the ingredients of the food eaten in the morning to how much food one should eat to stay healthy.

He added that the Olympiad’s main purpose is not only to reward winners, but to popularise chemistry and create interest in its uses among students. The participation of nearly 650 students from the Cumilla region this time proves students are interested in chemistry, he said.

Chief guest Professor Dr Rabiul Islam said taking part in such competitions is commendable and will help develop talent. However, he remarked that current examination results are disappointing and reflect the state of the education system.

Addressing the students, he said the mobile phone is now the main enemy of study, calling it a “devil’s box”. Noting that good textbooks and good teachers are needed to gain knowledge, he advised students to study regularly for eight to ten hours a day.

At the event, the Olympiad’s member secretary Dr Mohammad Atikur Rahman said the Chemistry Olympiad is an important platform for developing students’ creative and analytical thinking. Their aim through the event is to give students the chance to step outside conventional textbook learning and connect chemistry with real life.

He added that the spontaneous participation of students from Cumilla, Brahmanbaria and Chandpur had inspired the organisers. Praising the combined efforts of the Bangladesh Chemical Society, the university administration, teachers, volunteers and organising committee members, he expressed hope that the Olympiad would produce talented students able to represent the country at national and international levels in future.