Girls Shaping the Digital Future: Pushpo’s Evolution from Bhangura to Global Stage

In 2019, Sadia Anjum Puspo was just another student in the rural upazila of Bhangura in Pabna. Fast forward to 2026; she has emerged as a gold medallist, a global Python mentor for Stanford University, and a future engineer pursuing her graduation from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). Her story isn’t just a personal success; it is a meaningful message for the girls out there of what’s possibly happening when rural talent is given the right opportunities to grow and dream bigger.

Puspo’s journey into the world of tech began with a signature exposure visit of Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) "Obak Kutuhole"; she travelled from her village to explore. Until then, her idea of science and technology had been limited to textbooks. Visiting ICT workplaces and institutions relevant to science and technology opened her eyes to new possibilities. For the first time, she saw the ICT sector as a real and achievable career path for girls like her. “Before that visit, I didn’t even know such opportunities existed for us,” Puspo recalls.

Her interest grew further at the Kudrat-e-Khuda Science Camp, where she began working hands-on. She learnt the basics of research and created scientific posters. 

“I still remember learning how to write a scientific paper. It was the first time I felt like a scientist. When my team’s concept paper was selected for the Children’s Science Congress, it gave me the confidence to believe in myself." 

The foundation of her career was truly laid during a six-day Arduino Week workshop of BdOSN. It was her first time touching a microcontroller, the "brain" of a machine, and her team successfully built a line follower robot for the first time. Buoyed by this success, she travelled to the capital for the 2nd Bangladesh Robot Olympiad. However, the debut was far from a fairy tale—her robot malfunctioned on the big stage.

"We returned home empty-handed. But that failure was a defining moment. It didn't discourage me, rather it made me realize I wanted to master this field. BdOSN didn't just give me skills, they gave me a community where failing was just a necessary step toward learning."

Despite the early setback, Puspo’s persistence soon transformed into a landslide of accolades. After participating in the Ada Lovelace Celebration 2020 across programming and robotics showcases, she hit her stride in 2021, earning an Honorable Mention at the 4th Bangladesh Robot Olympiad (Robot Gathering) and two Technical Awards at the 23rd International Robot Olympiad. Her momentum only grew as she ranked in the Top 10 of the Bangladesh Girls’ Coding Contest 2022, earning a spot in an exclusive residential camp. That same year, she secured a Bronze Medal at the 5th Bangladesh Robot Olympiad and reached a global milestone with two Silver Medals at the 24th International Robot Olympiad in the Creative and Robot in Movie categories.

By 2024, Puspo reached the pinnacle of her competitive journey, clinching a Gold Medal at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Bangladesh and a Bronze Medal at the 21st International WRO in the Future Innovators category.

She taught robotics to students at her high school for two months in 2024 and worked as a mentor multiple times. In June 2024, she served as a mentor and director at a science and robotics camp organised by Volunteers Association for Bangladesh (VAB) in Keshabpur, Jashore, and Satkhira, Khulna, where around 50 students and 10 teachers from 10 schools participated.

Parallel to her competitive success, her expertise crossed the border, after excelling as a student in Stanford University’s Code in Place program, she was selected as a Section Leader for 2025 and again in 2026, teaching Python programming to students from across the globe. 

"Teaching a global audience was a dream I never knew I had. It shifted my perspective on what a girl can achieve. It wasn't just about code anymore, it was about leadership and confidence."

Today, as a student of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at SUST, Puspo’s journey has become the blueprint for the girls who are really passionate about doing something great in their career path. 

Navigating limited resources and breaking the stereotype that "girls don't do robotics”, Puspo has proven that the distance between a remote village and Stanford is bridged by opportunity. Looking ahead, Puspo dreams of becoming a leading professional in AI and modern technology. 

"I want to contribute to a society where no girl hesitates before picking up a soldering iron or writing her first line of code. I want to be the mentor for others that BdOSN was for me.".

On this Girls in ICT Day, Puspo stands as a living reminder that when we bridge the digital divide, we don't just change one life—we inspire an entire generation to build the future.