In celebration of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, Bangladesh IP Forum (BIPF) organised the Volunteer for Intellectual Property' (VIP) boot camp on May 2 at Dhaka University to raise awareness on the importance of intellectual property rights (IPR).

300 university students, budding entrepreneurs, and professionals engaged with experts in speaking and training sessions. Manzurur Rahman, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information, pointed out the need for IP awareness so that no other Bangladeshi has to meet the same fate as the late Lucky Akhand, and added that one should seek legal help for one's intangible property the way one would for tangible property. Barrister ABM Hamidul Mishbah, Founder of Bangladesh IP Forum, highlighted the importance of IP awareness in the thriving "idea market", where even young children are making games.

The event was inaugurated by Her Excellency Leoni Cuelenaere, Honourable Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Bangladesh. Other speakers included Mustafa Jabbar, President, BASIS; Md. Mustafizur Rahman, Director, a2i, Prime Minister's Office; Tanvir Haider Chaudhury, CEO, Kazi Food Industries Ltd.; Asif Munier, filmmaker; Ahsan Habib, Editor, Unmad Magazine; Naveed Mahbub, Former CEO of IBM Bangladesh and comedian among others.

Upon completion of the training, the volunteers are now expected to spread IP awareness and act as ambassadors of I PR in their communities and networks.

The ICT Division of the government and BetterStories Ltd. are jointly organising the first-ever National Demo Day and Bangladesh Startup Awards under the umbrella of Startup Bangladesh with support from Grameenphone Accelerator and Venture Capital and Private Equity Association of Bangladesh. To inspire startup culture across the country, the government will be awarding ten Bangladeshi tech startups on May 25, National Demo Day, where startups will be linked with a host of local and foreign investors.

Startups that are at least a year old, have a solid revenue model, and are operating from one of the divisions in Bangladesh can apply for the awards until midnight May 14. Startups that are graduates or winners of platforms such as incubators, accelerators, or other competitions can also apply for investor networking. Startups can submit their applications at: www.startupbangladesh.gov.bd/ndd.