CSEDU Hosts the 11th Edition of Battle of Brains 2026
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Dhaka (CSEDU), hosted the 11th edition of Battle of Brains (BOB) 2026 — the department's flagship annual programming contest for freshers and sophomores. This year's edition was jointly organized by the CSEDU Informatics Club (CSEDUIC) and the LUBDHAK B.Sc. 29th Batch, continuing a tradition that has, over the years, become one of the most anticipated events on the CSEDU calendar.
The event brought together contestants, problem setters, faculty members, and guests to celebrate the successful conclusion of a contest that once again showcased the algorithmic thinking and problem-solving abilities of the University's brightest young programmers.
This year's Battle of Brains drew 69 contestants from three departments across the University of Dhaka. The Department of Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) contributed 57 contestants, followed by the Institute of Information Technology (IIT) with 11 contestants, and the Department of Mathematics with 1 contestant.
As in previous editions, the Department of Computer Science & Engineering fielded the largest contingent, while the participation of contestants from the Institute of Information Technology and the Department of Mathematics reflected the contest's growing appeal beyond its home department.
The final round featured twelve (12) problems, labelled A through L, each prepared by a dedicated team of problem authors drawn from CSEDU's community of alumni and current students. A separate mock contest was conducted ahead of the main event to help contestants familiarize themselves with the contest environment and judging system, modeled after ICPC Regional Programming Contest environment.
Each First Solver received either a book or a Rubik's Cube as a commemorative gift.
Battle of Brains 2026 recognized outstanding performers across three award categories: the Combined Standings (Top 3), the First-Year (2024–25 session) Standings (top 2), and the Female Category (Champion – Combined and Champion – First-Year).
In the Combined Standings, Md. Sazid Alam (CSE, 2023–24) claimed the Championship title with ten problems solved, finishing ahead of Abrar Al Samit (CSE, 2024–25) and Nahian Ash-hab Ohin (CSE, 2023–24), who also solved ten problems each but secured the 1st and 2nd Runner-Up positions, respectively, based on lower total penalty and overall placement.
In the First-Year (2024–25 session) Standings, Mahir Faisal (CSE) was crowned Champion after solving eight problems and finishing 4th overall, while Mahdi Ahmed Mahi (CSE), who also solved eight problems and finished 5th overall, was named 1st Runner-Up.
In the Female Category, Ariba Hasan (CSE, 2023–24) was named Champion (Female – Combined) after solving five problems and finishing 16th overall, while Mst. Mehenaz Khatun (IIT, 2024–25) earned the title of Champion (Female – First-Year) after solving two problems.
The award-giving ceremony was attended by distinguished faculty members of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Dhaka, including Prof. Dr. Md. Abdur Razzaque, Chairman of the Department, Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim, and Associate Professor Dr. Md. Mosaddek Khan.
Now in its eleventh year, Battle of Brains has grown into a cornerstone event at CSEDU, serving as an early training ground for future ICPC contestants and fostering a strong community of competitive programmers at the University of Dhaka. The 2026 edition carried this legacy forward, once again providing freshers and sophomores with a platform to challenge themselves, learn from their peers, and celebrate their shared passion for coding.
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering extends its sincere appreciation to the CSEDU Informatics Club and the LUBDHAK B.Sc. 29th Batch for organizing the contest, to the problem authors and mock contest authors for preparing a challenging and rewarding problem set, and to all participants who made the 11th Battle of Brains a memorable success. The Department also expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the CSEDU alumni whose generous contributions played a vital role in making the event possible. With another successful edition behind it, Battle of Brains continues to strengthen CSEDU's tradition of excellence in computing and programming contests.