BracU organises the first Qiskit fall fest in Bangladesh
On November 15th, Brac University proudly hosted the first-ever IBM Qiskit Fall Fest in Bangladesh, coordinated by Shahriyar Al Mustakim Mitul (Senior, CSE) and Nafisa Shamim Rafa (Graduate, NSU). Qiskit Fall Fest unites a community of quantum science enthusiasts through a series of interactive events. When asked about the thought process behind hosting the event, the team of two explained, “Our main goals were to introduce beginners to quantum computing, spark curiosity about Qiskit, and create a welcoming environment where students could learn directly from people already working in the field.”
Around 150 participants from various universities attended the in-person event, where brilliant Bangladeshi minds from top institutions delivered lectures on quantum computing. The program featured five esteemed guest speakers, with an added bonus of Sowmitra Das (Senior Lecturer, CSE) kicking off the event by providing a brief overview of quantum computing.
Tanvir Ahmed Masum (PhD Candidate, University of Massachusetts Amherst) explored the physical life of a qubit. At the same time, Debopriyo Biswas (PhD Candidate, Duke University) focused on the journey from individual atoms to quantum computers, even providing a virtual lab tour of Duke University’s Duke Quantum Center — a crowd-favorite moment. Moving on, Shah Ishmam Mohtashim (PhD student, North Carolina State University) explored quantum algorithms for quantum chemistry, and Shushmi Chowdhury (PhD student, University of Strathclyde) presented quantum games, weak traces, and annealers. Finally, Omar Shehab (Staff Research Scientist, IBM Quantum) joined the panel along with the other speakers for an interactive Q&A session with the audience.
Overall, the event was a success thanks to the dedication of Shahriyar and Nafisa, supported by the Brac University Electrical and Electronic Club (BUEEC) and Sowmitra Das. Attending the program, Mehnaj Hridi (Student, MIST) recalled, “The event felt really welcoming. The Q&A was super helpful, and I loved that unanswered questions will later be posted on the website. We don’t always get access to expert opinions in person, which is why events like this are so important. I really hope we get more of these in Bangladesh.”
