Bangladesh has announced a six-member team for the 23rd International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO 2026), scheduled to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 2–9 December.

The team comprises Abrar Zahin Pathan, a ninth-grade student at Daffodil International School; Ahmed Saad and Mohammad Saifan Haider, ninth-grade students at St Joseph Higher Secondary School; Kazi Sunehra Islam Samriddhi and Marzana Manha, ninth-grade students at SFX Greenherald International School; and Nashwan Haq Mahir, a 10th-grade student at Dhaka Residential Model College, according to a press release.

The six students were selected through the 12th Bangladesh Junior Science Olympiad 2026.

Around 400 students who qualified through school Olympiads and an online selection round participated in the national round at the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology campus in Uttara on 28 August.

A total of 59 participants were declared winners. The final six-member team was selected following a three-day non-residential national camp and team selection tests held from 31 August to 2 September at the Dhanmondi office of the Society for the Popularization of Science, Bangladesh.

Marzana was the junior category champion in this year’s national round.

Reacting to her result, she said she had worked towards the achievement for two years and dreamed of studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department Professor Dr Farseem Mannan Mohammedy will serve as the team leader.

Bangladesh Junior Science Olympiad Coordinator and Society for the Popularization of Science, Bangladesh Senior Programme Officer Md Rezaul Islam will serve as an assistant team leader.

Bangladesh Junior Science Olympiad 2026 Academic Coordinator and Centre for Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics Project Manager Farzana Akter Lima will also serve as an assistant team leader.

A special preparation camp and practical science training for the selected students will begin at the Maksudul Alam Science Laboratory in Dhanmondi on 15 September.

Organisers said the practical examination accounted for 40% of the total marks at the international competition.

Following the preparation programme, the team is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Sofia on 1 December.

The International Junior Science Olympiad has been held since 2004 to bring together talented young students from around the world. Bangladesh has participated regularly since 2015.

The 12th Bangladesh Junior Science Olympiad was jointly organised by the Society for the Popularization of Science, Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Freedom Foundation, with the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology serving as national host.

The Annisul Huq Foundation was the platinum sponsor, while Bangladesh Open Source Network, Maksudul Alam Science Laboratory, Rokomari.com and ACI Odommo Medhabi supported the event.

The Business Standard, Jamuna Television, BigganChinta and Kishor Alo served as media and magazine partners.