Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday met the students of the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) who won the MATE ROV International Underwater Robot Competition 2026, congratulating them on bringing global recognition to Bangladesh and assuring them of the government's full support for research, innovation and technology-based startups.
The meeting took place at the Prime Minister's Office under the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon, according to a press release issued by Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Sujon Mahmud.
During the meeting, the prime minister said young innovators are the future of Bangladesh and that the government would continue to stand by them in research, technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
He stressed the need to diversify the country's export base by strengthening emerging sectors such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, furniture and cosmetics alongside the ready-made garments industry.
The MIST students demonstrated their championship-winning underwater robot before the prime minister, who took a keen interest in its design, technological capabilities and practical applications. He also exchanged views with the team members about the development process and their future plans.
Congratulating the students for bringing honour to Bangladesh on the international stage, Tarique Rahman said innovations like these would take the country's technological capabilities to a new level. He assured the team of the government's support for further technological development, commercialization of the robot and participation in future international competitions.
The students said they hoped to pursue careers in the technology sector and establish their own ventures after graduation. In response, the prime minister said the government would provide necessary assistance through its startup programmes if they wished to build technology-based startups.
Addressing the youth, he said innovators, researchers and technology entrepreneurs must take the lead in advancing Bangladesh. He added that the government has prioritised the semiconductor industry by encouraging domestic and foreign investment and developing a skilled workforce. He also called on Bangladeshi semiconductor experts working abroad to contribute to the growth of the sector at home.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulates the MIST world champion team at the Secretariat on Sunday, July 2, 2026.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulates the MIST world champion team at the Secretariat on Sunday, July 2, 2026. Photo: Courtesy
The prime minister said Bangladesh would progress faster if everyone performed their responsibilities with professionalism and dedication in their respective fields.
The meeting was attended by Defence Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) AKM Shamsul Islam, MIST Commandant Maj Gen Md Hakimuzzaman, Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Brig Gen KM Mostafizur Rahman, and 10 representatives of the championship-winning student team.
The MIST MAVIROV team emerged as world champion at the MATE ROV International Underwater Robot Competition 2026, held in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, from June 23 to 29. A total of 88 teams from 18 countries, including the United States, Canada, China and Saudi Arabia, participated in the competition. The Bangladeshi team secured first place for its innovation, engineering excellence, problem-solving ability and teamwork, earning international recognition for the country's growing technological capabilities.
FP/F
