On Monday, April 20, 2026, Riseup Labs brought its in-house and remote teams together for the Q1 2026 Townhall Event – an evening dedicated to reflection, recognition, and a shared vision for the road ahead. Hosted by the People and Culture Team at the Riseup Labs HQ, the event was a spirited celebration of the milestones that defined the first quarter of the year.
A Quarter in Review: Projects That Made an Impact
The evening opened with a presentation by the Lead Product Manager, Rakib Hasan Dipu, who walked attendees through the standout projects delivered in Q1 2026. Among the highlights was the development of the Bangladesh Election Commission website – a nationally significant platform that underscored Riseup Labs’ capability to deliver critical digital infrastructure. The session also spotlighted Trainr, an AI-powered fitness application, and Wefi – a project that the team accomplished in just two months, a feat that would typically take four to five months. These examples painted a clear picture of a team that does not just meet expectations, but consistently exceeds them.
The Next Frontier: AI Product Development
The second session was led by the Senior Business Analyst, Mahfujur Rahman, who offered a candid and thought-provoking look at the realities of AI product development. He spoke openly about the challenges the industry faces, including the problem of AI hallucinations, and emphasized the importance of prompt engineering as a foundational skill for the modern era. His message was direct: prompting is the new coding, and those who master it will shape the next generation of intelligent products.
An AI-First Culture at Riseup Labs
The final presentation of the evening came from the Director of Product & Technology, Md. Rafiquzzaman Rafiq, who delivered what many would describe as the session’s most forward-looking talk. Focusing on the concept of an AI-first culture, he outlined the concrete initiatives Riseup Labs is already putting in motion: AI agents working alongside every employee, workflow automation to eliminate repetitive tasks, AI-augmented development capable of cutting production timelines by a factor of three, and growing AI adoption across marketing and sales functions. He closed with a rallying call for every team member to experiment boldly, embrace risk, and lean into the possibilities that AI presents.
Reward & Recognition: Honoring the Stars of Q1 2026
The second half of the evening belonged to the people. The Reward & Recognition session was the emotional centrepiece of the night, with five awards presented to individuals and teams who defined excellence in Q1 2026.
Md Eamin Hossain was named Outstanding Employee of the Quarter (In-House) for his exceptional contributions throughout the quarter. Representing the remote workforce, Salauddin Al-Faruq was honored as Outstanding Employee of the Quarter (Remote Team). The Global Business Development Team took home the award for Best-Performing Team in Terms of Target Achievement, a recognition of their consistent drive and results. Habiba Akter received the “Master of Discipline” Award, honoring her reliability and consistent professionalism in both work and workplace behavior.
The final and perhaps most talked-about recognition of the night was the AI Excellence Award, presented to three individuals who demonstrated what is possible when curiosity meets capability. Rakibul Islam built an internal Project Management System tool from scratch that successfully replaced a paid third-party tool the company had been using. Abdullah Al Nahian, a Product Manager, independently developed a complex desktop application for a client entirely through AI. And Md. Misbahul Islam, also a Product Manager, delivered a mathematically complex client application within just a few days, a timeline that would have been unthinkable without the power of AI-assisted development. Their stories were not just awards moments, but proof points for the AI-first vision the company is building toward.
An Evening to Remember
The Townhall concluded on a warm and lively note, with the entire team gathering in the cafeteria for snacks and an opportunity to connect. In-house and remote employees mingled freely, sharing conversations that extended well beyond project updates. It was a fitting close to an evening that was, at its core, about people: their achievements, their potential, and their place in a company moving confidently into the future.
This page was last edited on 21 April 2026, at 1:11 pm
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