Feature image caption: (from the left) Prof. Saiful Islam (BUET), Prof. Ishtiaque Ahmed (BUET), Noriatsu Kudo (Keio), Prof. A. B. M. Badruzzaman (BUET), Achmad Husni Thamrin (SOI Asia), Marcos Sadao Maekawa, Prof. Hossen Asiful Mustafa (BUET)
While in Dhaka to participate in APAN 61, the SOI Asia delegation visited Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) — one of SOI Asia’s most active partners institutions, with collaboration dating back to 2004.
The delegation — Noriatsu Kudo (Keio University), Achmad Husni Thamrin (SOI Asia) and Marcos Sadao Maekawa (APNIC Foundation) — held a courtesy meeting with BUET Vice-Chancellor Dr. A. B. M. Badruzzaman, during which they formally invited him to the SOI Asia 30th Anniversary Ceremony, to be held at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in September 2026. A particularly meaningful moment was realizing that Dr. Badruzzaman had authored the original proposal for the first SOI Asia antenna installed at BUET in 2004.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by ICCT Director Hossen Asiful Mustafa, Prof. Md. Saiful Islam, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering Prof. Ishtiaque Ahmed, and colleagues. During the visit, SOI Asia shared updates on ongoing initiatives, including the APIE program, Inxignia digital badges, as well as EBA project and CBR activities.
Around ten BUET students also joined the session to learn more about learning and engagement opportunities within the SOI Asia community, with several of them already having participated in APIE.
BUET students have consistently demonstrated strong engagement in SOI Asia activities over the years. Looking ahead, SOI Asia hopes to further strengthen this collaboration — not only through student mobility, but also by exploring BUET’s leadership in community-based research initiatives and the potential hosting of future APIE Camps.