a2i, ICT Division holds Smart Bangladesh Run in Dhaka

Aspire to Innovate (a2i) and the ICT Division jointly organised the Smart Bangladesh Run 2024 race competition in Dhaka on Friday (16 February).

The event themed "Step into the Future: Run for Mission 2041," attracted 2,041 participants in a race promoting health and smart nation development, reads a press release.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak attended the ceremony as chief guest.

The race began at 6:00am in front of Hatirjheel's amphitheatre and ended there after covering a distance of 7.5 km around the entire Hatirjheel area.

Amateur runners participated in the event in four categories: women, men, people over-50s, and people with disabilities. The winners of the event were determined by a chip timing system.

After the race, Zunaid Ahmed Palak and other guests presented the awards to the winners. Following the awards ceremony, Palak also announced that this kind of race would be organised regularly in the future.

A total of 19 winners in four categories were awarded cash prizes, certificates and medals.

Md Imran Hasan became the champion in the men's category while Hamida Akhter Jeba became the champion in the women's category and Md Wahab Khan became the champion in the over-50 category.

Abu Rayhan, Shihab Biswas and Jannatul Naeem were champions respectively in three categories (wheelchair, visually impaired and hearing and speech impaired) in the people with disabilities event.

Palak, participated in the 7.5 km category to motivate the runners participating in the Smart Bangladesh Run event. He finished the race in 68 minutes when the target was 75 minutes.

The state minister emphasised the importance of the race in achieving the Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041 goals, drawing parallels to Bangladesh's past achievements like gaining independence and protecting its mother tongue.

"We are an invincible nation. To fulfil the vision of building a Smart Bangladesh by 2041, which has been given by our prime minister, we have to be prepared with a healthy, progressive and non-communal mindset.

"This Smart Bangladesh Run has been organised to encourage everyone. Apart from contributing as an innovative, problem-solving citizen as a patriot from every place, we will make ourselves smart citizens. We will build a smart Bangladesh with healthy and merit-based Smart citizens," he added.

He stressed the need for a healthy, progressive, and inclusive society to build a Smart Bangladesh, envisioning a future where all citizens, regardless of ability or gender, can contribute.

The platinum sponsor of the event was Mutual Trust Bank PLC and the gold sponsors were SSL Wireless, Sublime Limited, Lead Academy, and Amiprobashi.

In addition, the venue and media partners were RTV, T-Sports, The Business Standard, and Dhaka Post. Award partners were ekPay and Tour Group BD.

Food and beverage partners were Cornflakes, Meena Bazar, Digibox, Skill Finance, and Gold Kinen. The electrolyte partner was SMC Plus and event partner was Run Bangladesh and the safety partners were Dhaka Civil Surgeon Office and Bloodman.

Besides, a2i's Project Director (Joint Secretary) Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Joint Project Director (Joint Secretary) Mollah Mizanur Rahman, Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury, Project Manager Mazedul Islam, Head of Culture and Communications Purabi Matin, among others, distinguished persons, public representatives, citizens of various classes and occupations including teachers-students, representatives of sports organisations, voluntary organisations, cultural workers were present