The opening ceremony of the 17th National Undergraduate Mathematics Olympiad 2026 was held at Islamic University in Kushtia on Friday, with students from different universities and colleges across the Khulna region taking part in the event.

IU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AKM Motinur Rahman inaugurated the programme as the chief guest at around 10am by releasing balloons and pigeons at the university’s central football field.

Mathematics department of IU organized the regional round of the Olympiad in collaboration with the Bangladesh Mathematical Society and the A.F Mujibur Rahman Foundation.

The inauguration ceremony was presided over by science Faculty dean Prof Dr Asaduzzaman, while Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Amtaj Hossain and Treasurer Prof Dr Idris Ali were present as special guests. BUET Professor Dr Manirul Alam Sarker, a member of the National Undergraduate Mathematics Olympiad Committee, attended as an invited guest.

Undergraduate and equivalent-level students from universities and colleges in 10 districts of the Khulna division participated in the regional competition. The participants sat for a 120-minute examination in English, comprising eight mathematical problems carrying 10 marks each, for a total of 80 marks.

Winners of the regional round will qualify for the national final, scheduled to be held on December 4 at Dhaka University. Top performers at the national level will have the opportunity to represent Bangladesh at the International Mathematics Competition in 2027.

IU VC Prof Dr AKM Motinur Rahman said mathematics is not merely an academic subject or a means of calculation, but a fundamental basis of science, technology and logical thinking.

‘It is truly important to develop student’s interest in mathematics to build a knowledge-based and technologically advanced society. In the age of digitalization and artificial intelligence, today’s session is truly important,’ he added.