Bangladesh Begins Biggest Hackathon Battle- NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2025

The Bangladesh phase of the world’s largest hackathon, “NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2025,” has officially begun virtually. This marks the twelfth edition of the NASA Space Apps Challenge in Bangladesh. The 36-hour hackathon, which started on Friday, October 3, will run continuously until Saturday evening, when results will be announced at 6:00 PM.

According to organizers, the competition is being held across nine cities in Bangladesh, with each city supported by one local lead assisting participants in their activities. More than 3,000 participants are taking part in the two-day online hackathon on October 3–4, presenting over 400 innovative projects.

As in previous years, the event is organized by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), with American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) as the title sponsor, and supported by BASIS Students’ Forum. Over the past 11 years, Bangladesh has achieved global recognition by becoming world champion a total of four times, including three consecutive wins.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) organizes the International Space Apps Challenge to bring together bright young minds—technologists, scientists, designers, artists, educators, and entrepreneurs—from 185 countries to develop innovative solutions addressing global challenges. In Bangladesh, BASIS is hosting the event across nine cities: Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Cumilla.

This year, the challenge aims to engage 10 million students through social media, while directly involving 200,000 students in participation and activities.

Notably, Bangladeshi teams have won several global championships in past editions. In 2018, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology’s “Team Olik” won the “Best Use of Data” category with its Lunar VR Project, a virtual application offering a moon-travel experience. In 2021, “Team Mohakash,” a joint team from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology (BAUET), won the “Best Mission Concept” category. In 2022, “Team Diamonds” claimed the title in the “Most Inspirational” category, while in 2023, “Team Voyagers” from Bangladesh became world champion in the “Best Storytelling” category.

For 2025, AIUB has stepped in as the title sponsor of the Bangladesh phase of the competition.