Mohammad Adnan ALP ’24, was recently a finalist in the AppQuest AppLink Hackathon by Banglalink in Bangladesh for his Ed-Tech initiative ‘Amplify.IT’. His venture was born out of personal experience and observations during his school days.
“I remember in my school days, my school lab rooms had only a handful of equipment. We used to gather around it in a crowded manner and most of us couldn’t really see what was going on,” Adnan reflected.
This experience wasn’t unique to him. Across Bangladesh, generations of students have grown up without access to proper laboratory facilities, with most schools sharing minimal equipment among hundreds of learners. To this day, except for a few prestigious institutions, educational inequality remains a defining challenge.
The numbers paint a sobering picture. Recent Board exam results revealed the lowest passing rate in two decades. Reports indicate that nearly 80% of educational institutions lack functional labs. “This is an unspoken struggle of our students, especially those who dream big but lack financial access,” Adnan observed.
A Virtual Solution to a Physical Problem
Amplify.IT is Bangladesh’s first AI-assisted virtual laboratory platform. The platform enables students to perform virtual experiments, engage in interactive simulations, and explore advanced 3D visualization tools across STEM and non-STEM disciplines.
“Our AI supports the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) curriculum directly to assist our students, with in-built features providing a gamified learning experience,” Adnan explained. The platform offers over 100 scientific experiments, including emergency response simulations, earthquake and fire scenarios presented in gamified formats that blend practical safety education with engaging learning methods.
Beyond students, Adnan envisions educators using Amplify in classroom environments where lab equipment is limited. “We want to strengthen conceptual understanding by providing immersive, accessible, and inclusive educational opportunities,” he said.
What sets Amplify apart is its commitment to true accessibility. The platform includes offline functionality for rural learners and specialized features for visually impaired users. “We’re ensuring that no learner is left behind,” he emphasized.
Beyond the Laboratory
Recognizing that students need comprehensive support, Adnan’s team also developed AceIT as a complementary platform. “AceIT becomes a student’s focal point for skill enhancement, financial literacy, productivity, and higher study updates,” Adnan described. Together with Amplify, the platforms form a complete package to mitigate skill and information gaps.
The response has been remarkable. Within the first week of launching, AceIT reached over 3,000 users, demonstrating nationwide reach and high scalability. “Getting featured in Dhaka Tribune, a daily newspaper platform in Bangladesh, was also an honor for us,” Adnan noted.
Building Momentum Through Partnerships and Recognition
Operating under a freemium model to ensure rural students don’t fall behind, Amplify.IT’s vision has gained significant traction. “Our ongoing partnership with Bangladesh’s leading telecom companies Robi and Banglalink strengthens our reach,” Adnan shared.
Beyond the AppQuest AppLink Hackathon, the team has achieved finalist positions in other national-level hackathons and innovation summits. “Accomplishing these positions and having our technical capabilities validated by expert judge panels demonstrates that we’re on the right path,” Adnan reflected.
The initiative aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), reaffirming its mission to deliver affordable, inclusive, and transformative education for all.
Virtual laboratories won’t solve every challenge in Bangladesh’s education system, he acknowledged, but they represent a practical, scalable response to a crisis that has held back too many brilliant minds.
“Don’t memorize, visualize. With Amplify,” Adnan concluded.
