Records
Seminar
MD. Khorshed Alam
Lecturer Dept. of CSE, Notre Dame Univarsity BangladeshAn Intro to Competitive Programming
Overview
A Journey into Logic: NDUB Computer Club Hosts "Think Like A Coder!" A buzz of intellectual curiosity filled the NDUB campus on Tuesday, 7th October 2025, as students gathered in Room No. 512 for an insightful seminar titled "Think Like A Coder!: An introduction to competitive programming." Hosted by the NDUB Computer Club, the session was specially designed to welcome the junior students of the CSE-25 and CSE-26 batches, aiming to boost their logical thinking and provide clear guidance for the world of coding contests.
The room was filled with enthusiastic junior students as the event commenced at 12:30 PM. The session began with an introductory speech by Saiful sir at 12:50 PM. He immediately set a motivational tone, demystifying competitive programming (CP) by emphasizing that success in the field hinges more on the "thinking part" and skill development rather than just a high CGPA. He highlighted the practical benefits of CP, noting how it sharpens skills valued by software companies, which directly aids in securing internships and strong job opportunities. He warmly appreciated the attendees before introducing the event's special guest speaker.
The keynote speaker for the session was Khorshed Alam, Lecturer at the Dept. of CSE, Notre Dame University Bangladesh. Mr. Alam's comprehensive speech, which began at 1:03 PM, took the students on a deep dive into the mind of a programmer. He initiated his talk by engagingly asking, "What is CP?" and used a simple, relatable analogy of "making tea" to illustrate the core concept of a "problem"—not just as a challenge, but as something that can be solved, and more importantly, solved efficiently. He identified the key components for a programmer as a blend of logic, mathematics, and imagination.
Read moreMr. Alam's presentation systematically covered a wide array of foundational topics. He touched upon the history of human civilization as a history of problems, assuring students that the creative problem-solving of programming is not easily replaceable by AI. He explored fundamental concepts like the difference between data and information, and defined a programming language as a "mathematical-communicational symbiosis." He masterfully guided the students through classic computer science challenges, including the Collatz (3n+1) conjecture, the N-Queen Problem (solved with backtracking), graph search algorithms like BFS and Dijkstra, and the infamous Traveling Salesman Problem. He also covered primality testing, the specific purposes of different languages like C++ and Python, and affirmed that programming contests are a powerful way to "make you creative." He concluded his technical session by providing students with a practical roadmap, suggesting books and online platforms to begin their problem-solving journey. The formal session wrapped up around 1:49 PM with closing remarks that emphasized the critical importance of continuous practice and intellectual curiosity. Following a heartfelt thanks to the guest, Nafisa Ma'am delivered a finishing speech at 1:52 PM, reinforcing the day's key messages. As a gesture of gratitude, Mr. Khorshed Alam was presented with a crest as a token of appreciation. "Think Like A Coder!" was more than just a seminar; it served as a foundational guide for the junior CSE students. It successfully demystified the world of competitive programming, transforming it from an intimidating field into an accessible and exciting pursuit. The motivational talks from the speakers and the dedicated efforts of the NDUB Computer Club made a lasting impression on all attendees, equipping them with both the inspiration and a clear roadmap to begin their coding journey.
