Dr. Md. Khalilur Rahman
BRAC Robotics

Dr. Md. Khalilur Rahman pursued his PhD in Information Engineering from Japan. It was there that his childhood dream of building a robot resurfaced with full vigour. After he returned to Bangladesh and accepted the post of Assistant Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering School of BRAC University, his dream became a reality. The BRACU-CHONDROBOT was the first lunar excavation robot to be built as the first project by BRAC University's robotics team. What is surprising is the success that this machine has fetched from NASA's second annual Lunabotics Mining Competition held in May last year. The CHONDROBOT survived immense competition and was one of the final 25 teams, picked out of 48 participating squads handpicked from 72 different challengers from all around the world. Even giants such as McGill and Harvard were cut out from the final selection for not being able to meet specifications!

The 36-year-old professor is very proud of his team. They worked exceptionally well even though they didn't have well equipped laboratories, resources, or even materials to work with. Everything had to be made from scratch using parts bought and recycled from Dholaikhaal. He is still hopeful of gaining connections in international markets, collaborating with industries for experience in application, and receiving funding along with collaboration from the government, well-off companies and other universities with resources and knowledge in the field.

Dr. Md. Khalilur Rahman and his inspiring team comprises of Dr. Mohammed Belal Hossain Bhuian, Dr. Md. Mosaddeque Rahman, students of BRAC: Shiblee Imtiaz Hasan, Mohammad Jonayet Hossain, Kazi Mohammad Razin, Mahmudul Hasan Oyon and Md. Asifur Rahman, and volunteers, Eftakhar Karim Rahat, Imran Bin Jafar and Nirjhor Tahmidur Rouf. They are all dedicated to improving the designs to introduce CHONDROBOT2 in this year's NASA competition, hoping to fetch better accolades and international attention. The team is also working on projects such as 3rd Generation CAR Security Systems, Next Generation CAR, Robots for Agricultural Work (Automatic Plantation), All Terrain Rescue Robots and Humanoid Robots.

He says, “We are already far behind the developed countries in every sector, especially in research. Most of the researchers of good universities and laboratories abroad are from South Asia, but in their home countries, they don't get enough opportunities for research. BRAC University is providing us with those facilities. These kinds of projects are very helpful for knowledge exchange between teachers and students; secondly, universities will be able to collaborate on research with next generation technological institutes like NASA; our next generation students will get inspiration on research and development, and lastly, we may be able to believe that nothing is impossible for us.”

Dr. Khalil never stopped dreaming, and had taken a leap of faith when he started his research in robotics with his brilliant team. He had one last thing to say, “Do not stop dreaming.”

Compiled by Star Correspondent

Sufi Faruq Ibne Abubakar
President of Projuktite Kushtia

Only 21 when setting up Projuktite Kushtia in 1999, Sufi Faruq Ibne Abubakar, now its President, has ventured the concept of Digital Bangladesh long before many had even dreamt of making Bangladesh technologically progressive.

Born into a middle class family from Bashgram village of the Bagulat Union in Kumarkhali Upazila under Kushtia district, he worked for various national and international ISPs, NGOs, telecoms etc. for about a decade before becoming the head of the Information and Technology Department at Aktel (now Robi). After resigning in 2009, he started up his own operation in the world of information and technology. He has helped many corporations -- Content Assembly, Internet Services, InfoTech Management, InfoTech Security, and TVET Education to name a few -- rise in success from scratch.

“ISP Setup Manual an ICT Internetworking Cookbook”, one of his renowned achievements, was published in 2004. The book has received major appreciation from ICT networking professionals in the country and abroad. A part-time lecturer at many colleges and universities, teaching mainly Data Technologies, Creation of Sturdy Communities and Enterprise Development, he has also travelled around the world as a speaker and panellist for different workshops and seminars.

Initiating Technology Fairs, Workshops on Data Management Training, Enterprise Building Workshops, Enterprise Collaboration and Conferences, Digital Kushtia, Computer (a local magazine on technology), and “Alo Hote Choliyache Jatri”, Sufi is both a social worker but more importantly a community journalist.

Starting with Projuktite Kushtia, a self-sustaining, organisation, Sufi successfully completed a model from which Projuktite Khulna, Projuktite Jhenaidah, Projuktite Magura, sprung out of -- forming their own independent organisations.

Digital Kushtia comprises of over 500 social network pages that have been designed to provide information on famous people and places all over the district -- all looked after a volunteer committee. As a current project under this idea, digital content is being developed exclusively for children so that they are made aware of various idols and achievers around the nation. Sufi Faruq himself had published a digital book on Lalon for the toddlers back in 2010, titled “Baul Samrat Lalon Shai”.

Sufi’s range of community assistance goes beyond imagination. Where IT Management Association of Bangladesh (ITMAB) popularises ICT Management all over the country, Haat Parikrama addresses ‘haat’ (weekly markets) to update new technologies and how they can better everyone’s businesses on a daily basis.

Where the South Asian Specialised Education Group (SASEG) assists training and interactive learning for those majoring in Civil, Electrical, Computer and Textile Engineering; Paramedics; and Health Assistance as short courses and diplomas, with Kushtia Medical Institute, Kumarkhali Science and Technology Institute, Alo Medical Assistant Training Centre among many others offering these courses, the Academy of Management and Science (AMS) looks into enforcing knowledge in workers to cope with the constantly changing scenario of the world in technologies. In fact US students are also being trained through videoconferences governed by AMS.

The Business Innovation & Incubation Centre (BIIC) initiated by Sufi comes with a vision to shape up the upcoming young business minds towards success through training in this ‘incubator’. The Alo Health Centre on the other hand helps provide healthcare for the people living in Kushtia with limited income, besides which free healthcare is provided from camps on a regular basis.

On the information front, Sufi has created Bangladesher Khobor Online for those living in the areas deprived of local news. He has made sure through this portal that such people are in touch with their locality through online journalism.

Adding to the education sector the Sufi Welfare Foundation ensures scholarships for poor students, where about 300 students since 2005 have received aids so that they were able to continue with their education.
Also a leading organiser of the International Data Technologies Support, Work Specification and Quality Control for the ITSMF Bangladesh Chapter, Sufi Faruq multitasks with brilliance. Through and through, he has been able to address all sectors necessary for the well being of not only the rural sector, but also the nation as a whole. He has definitely shown the vastness of human potential and continues to do so.

Compiled by Star Correspondent

Bickey Russell
Strategic Partnership Manager @ Google

How does a Geography major who grew up in Dhaka go on to work for one of the biggest internet companies in the world? Just ask Bickey Russell who landed a job at the behemoth internet corporation following a bachelor's degree, learning about the physical world around us, from King's College in the United Kingdom.

The job at Google came about almost on a whim, as Bickey explains.

“I was already very interested in working at Google and was passionate about media and technology. I did not know if I had the right skill-set but I was 'inspired' to apply for an opening at Google one day after completing Richard Branson's book, "Screw it, Let's Do It!!”

The advice of the eccentric Virgin boss obviously worked and Bickey found himself with a plush job advising Google's major clients on strategic market opportunities and on the digital space in general. Stripped of jargon, this meant that Bickey spent most of his time playing around with internal and external tools and resources, developing strategy and thought leadership and consequently developing a deep understanding of the internet and digital marketing.

Bickey transferred to Google HQ in Mountain View in January 2011 and now works as a Strategic Partnership Manager in the North American Channel Partnerships team. His current role involves working closely with Google's major partners that serve small to medium sized businesses.

Bickey is well integrated into Google's famous work culture, “Google really is a fantastic place to work with some pretty cool perks. The Mountain View office (Global HQ) has some unbelievable facilities including over 15 free cafeterias. The food is pretty good too, but you need to be careful not to pile on the calories!” he says.

But like any innovative corporation Google has solutions for that as well. “One crazy thing I've seen but haven't tried yet in the office are these treadmills where you can walk and work on your laptop at the same time,” says Bickey. “Now that is productivity,” he adds.

by Quazi Zulquarnain Islam