NASA Space Apps Challenge 2013 has been held in Dhaka for the 9th consecutive time in collaboration with Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), BASIS Students Forum. More than 2,000 contestants from 9 divisional cities of the country participated in this 36-hour hackathon at the Independent University campus in Bashundhara of the capital on Friday morning. Out of a total of 210 projects, the online competition will end on Saturday afternoon with the top 50 selected in the hybrid model and the remaining 160 projects online.
The contestants participated in the competition in groups, ignoring the continuous rain from morning.
Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Division Md. Shamsul Arefin attended the opening ceremony in the presence of candidates. BASIS President Russell T Ahmed and NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023 convener and BASIS Director Tanveer Hossain Khan, Mohammad Mahdi-uz-Zaman and Ariful Hasan Apu, advisors for the NASA Space Apps Challenge were also present.
While speakingas the chief guest, Md. Shamsul Arefin said, ‘It is very important to create scientists for the development and prosperity of a country. We are moving forward with the goal of Smart Bangladesh. To reach this goal we need to develop equally in all sectors of technology. We need to give more encouragement to our youth for this development and only through this technological development we can reach the goal of implementing Smart Bangladesh. Enthusiasm and desire among young people to become scientists in the future is mandatory. It is also important to encourage science and technology among the youth. We hope the youth will get more inspiration through the ‘NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023’ competition.
BASIS President Russell T Ahmed said, BASIS is organizing this event for the 9th consecutive time. In the last five years we have become world champions three times. When we see one of you are going to NASA and holding the flag of Bangladesh high, we become proud of that. Then it seems that we have successfully organized this competition. The ‘NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023’ is a competition that will help open a door to encourage science and technology in the most independent way. I believe that through this kind of program our youth will develop the desire and ambition to become scientists in the future. I believe that the streak of glory of being world champions for the past three times will continue.
My journey with the NASA Space Apps Challenge began in 2018. In 2018, Shahjalal Science and Technology University’s ‘Team Aleek’ became the world champion by presenting a virtual application that will give the experience of traveling to the moon in the ‘Lunar VR Project’ Best Use of Data category and I had the opportunity to work as a mentor for that team. From there I got more motivated and I have been working as the convener of this program for the past two years. We are proud of the achievements of our youth in recent years. Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology (BOUET) joint team ‘Team Saqasan’ became the world champion in the category of ‘Best Mission Concept’ in 2021. In 2022 “Team Diamonds” – World Champion in “Most Inspirational” category. These achievements are the youth of Bangladesh.
Regarding the hackathon, BASIS Public Relations Officer Hasan Imam said, the closing ceremony will be held at IUB tomorrow, on October 7 (Saturday), 2023 at 6:30 pm. Minister of Education Dr. Dipu Moni will be present as the chief guest. Vice-Chancellor of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) Tanveer Hasan will be present as the special guest and James Gardiner, Economics, Science and Technology Officer of the US Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh will be the guest of honour.
It is worth noting that, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration-NASA is implementing this program with the aim of finding innovative solutions to solve various global problems of the world by bringing together talented young people from different fields such as technicians, scientists, designers, artists, educators, entrepreneurs from 185 countries of the world. As part of this, BASIS has organized in 9 cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chittagong Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Comilla). In addition to engaging 1 crore students through social media, the NASA Space Apps Challenge is planning to engage 200,000 students directly and through the competition.