Women in Digital

What is it? 

Women In Digital Bangladesh (WIDBD) is hosting the countries first National Hackathon for Women! This 36 hour event  challenges groups of women/girls to use their Programming skills to collaboratively solve real world problems and develop solutions to real world problems.

The Hackathon also aims to:

• Encourage women to join the ICT industry 
• Stimulate the creativity and innovation of Women already working in the ICT industry
• Connect passionate Women in a friendly and supportive environment
• Solve real world problems through ICT and teamwork 

How does it work? 

Over a frenzied 36 hour weekend, passionate ICT students/professionals work in collaborative programming sessions  to develop innovate solutions to social issues. The event will test the entrants talent and creativity in making, testing and validating their ideas and projects with the guidance and support from a range of industry experts and Mentors (listed below).

Contestants will have to bring their best ideas from the following Topics/Categories: 

1. Corruption

2. Health & Well Being (example: medical care, sport, lifestyle, etc)

3. Culture & Tourism (example: heritage, travel, subcultures, etc)

4. Media & Entertainment (example: news & journalism, entertainment, Games, etc)

5. Business & Commerce (example: innovative services, security, finance, marketing, etc)

6. Learning & Education (example: knowledge, science, skills, etc)

7. Agriculture & Environment (example: climate, sustainable resources, green energy, etc)

8. Inclusion & Empowerment (example: diversity, gender, justice, human rights, accessibility, etc)

9. Smart Settlements & Urbanization (example: mobility, productive work, sustainable living, etc)

The results of the work will be judged by a jury of experts. The first and second group of winners will receive differentiated prizes.

When is this happening? 

This 36 hour of Hackathon is taking place in Dhaka, Bangladesh in September 2016 under the following schedule: 

Program opening and start application receiving:              4th July, 2016

Applications Close:                                                                 31st August, 2016

Opening ceremony                                                                 23rd September,2016

Final Presentation and Awards ceremony:                          24th September, 2016

Who will be a part of this?  

The Hackathon is open to all women across Bangladesh. 

Who are the Mentors: 

A diverse global panel of technology leaders will be mentoring the competition:

• Achia Khaleda Nila
• Nasima Akter Nisha
• Samira Zuberi Himika
• Shubrami Moutushy
• Nilim Ahmed
• Ahmed Niaz Morshed
• Anam Ahmed
• Arafat Hossain
• Imran Ali
• Tanbeen Amin
• Pavel Sarwar
• Hassan Zaman

Honorable guests:

1. Zunaid Ahmed Palak (confirmed)

    State Minister

    Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications & Information Technology

2. Tarana Halim

    State Minister

    Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology

3.  Shem Shundor Sikder

    Secretary at Ministry of ICT

     BangladeshGovernment Administration

4. Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

    DIRECTOR GENERAL

   Research, Monitoring, Prevention and Mass Awareness

5. Mustafa Jabbar

   President

   BASIS

6. Shameem Ahsan

    Ex. President

    BASIS

7. Muhammed Zafar Iqbal

   Professor, SUST, Sylhet, Bangladesh

8. Selima Ahmad (President, BWCCI)

9. Farhana A Rahman (Chairperson/CEO at UY Systems Ltd, Express Digitally) , Director BASIS

10. Sonia Bashir Kabir, Microsoft

11. Fahim Mashroor , BDjobs

     And others...

We need the fund for 

1. Prize money for Winning entrants and teams 

2. Venue, Marketing, Hackathon campaign all over the Bangladesh

3. Food & Transport over the 36 hour weekend 

4. Security for the event 

This is the first time a Hackathon has been run in Bangladesh, and also the very first Hackathon only for Women. In Bangladesh Women experience significant challenges around Gender equality. This event seeks to: 

• Demonstrate the talents and skills that Women have
• To increase Womens confidence in their own skills and abilities
• To encourage more women to join the ICT industry