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At a time when many children their age are only beginning to explore the digital world, 11-year-old twins Tanvir Hasan and Tafsir Hasan are already building their own apps.
The sixth-grade brothers from Shariatpur have officially joined bdapps, the app store and developer ecosystem of Robi Axiata PLC, becoming the platform’s youngest developers.
Their achievement is particularly notable because they learned coding and app development without access to the equipment and formal training usually associated with technology education.
For the past three years, the twins have taught themselves programming through free YouTube tutorials and other online resources. Without a computer of their own, they used their mother’s smartphone to practise coding and develop three apps.
Their journey came to the attention of bdapps through media reports, prompting the platform to invite the brothers to Robi Axiata’s corporate headquarters on August 13.
During the visit, Tanvir and Tafsir demonstrated their applications and explained how they had taught themselves coding using limited resources. Impressed by their initiative and technical interest, bdapps formally onboarded them as developers.
The recognition was followed by practical support.
On August 19, a bdapps team visited the twins’ home in Shariatpur and organised a hands-on training session. The team introduced them to app development techniques, coding best practices and the use of artificial intelligence tools.
The brothers were also encouraged to explore AI-driven applications and develop the skills needed to adapt to rapidly changing technologies.
For the twins, one of the biggest changes will be having access to a computer of their own.
bdapps presented them with a new laptop and branded gifts, ending their dependence on their mother’s smartphone for coding practice. The platform also awarded them full scholarships for an advanced app development course.
The laptop and formal training are expected to give the brothers greater scope to experiment with more complex applications and deepen their understanding of software development.
Their interest in technology is matched by strong academic performance. Both brothers earned merit-based scholarships during primary school.
They now have ambitions that extend far beyond building smartphone applications. The twins dream of becoming software engineers and working for major global research and technology organisations such as Microsoft or NASA. They also hope to develop an artificial intelligence-powered robot of their own one day.
Their story highlights how access to digital learning resources can allow young people to develop technical skills even when conventional infrastructure is limited.
“Lack of resources shouldn’t hold back talent. What young people need most is the right guidance,” said Mohammad Shawkat Kader Chowdhury, head of marketing at Robi Axiata PLC.
“We want youth like Tanvir and Tafsir shaping the future of AI and tech. This bdapps initiative may be a small step for them today, but it marks the start of major innovations tomorrow,” he said.
The initiative also reflects the growing importance of early exposure to coding, artificial intelligence and digital problem-solving in Bangladesh.
As technology becomes increasingly integrated into education, business and everyday life, interest in software development is spreading beyond university campuses and professional training centres. Young learners are increasingly using freely available online resources to acquire skills outside traditional classrooms.
For children from outside major urban centres, however, access to suitable devices and structured guidance remains a significant challenge.
The twins’ experience illustrates both sides of that reality. Their determination allowed them to overcome the lack of a computer, but institutional support has now given them the tools and training to take their skills further.
bdapps, a flagship digital initiative of Robi Axiata PLC, has developed one of Bangladesh’s largest app stores and developer ecosystems. The platform says its community includes more than 100,000 developers, around 25 percent of whom are women.
The ecosystem allows developers to publish applications and explore monetisation opportunities through telecom APIs, subscriptions and other digital services.
More than 100,000 apps have been developed and published through the platform, according to bdapps.
By bringing two 11-year-olds into that community, the platform is highlighting not only the brothers’ achievement but also the potential of Bangladesh’s next generation of technology developers.
Tanvir and Tafsir began with little more than a smartphone, free online lessons and curiosity. They now have a laptop, formal training and access to a national developer ecosystem.
Their next challenge is to turn that early curiosity into real innovation.
And if their ambitions are any indication, the two young developers are already thinking well beyond their first three apps.