Apex Astro-Olympiad Rangpur Qualifier held
A monkey played Big Bang’s story on the big screen in the auditorium. And the present students listened to the story of the big bang. This is what happened at the end of the preliminary qualifying examination of the Rangpur division of the 19th Apex Astro-Olympiad organized nationwide by Bangladesh Astronomical Association.
Students from various schools and colleges of the division participated in the selection stage held at the auditorium of Rangpur District Art Academy on Monday.
The ceremony started with the singing of the national anthem. After the exam, Tagore songs and patriotic songs were sung by program coordinator and local artiste Israt Jahan Kankan. The organizers awarded medals and certificates to the selected contestants.
The program was inaugurated by the chief guest of the event, Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Md. Mobashwer Hasan. Addressing the students present in the opening speech, he said, “All our arrangements and work are for you. So you have to capitalize on them and go farther.”
Bangladesh Astronomy Association President Mashhurul Amin, Rangpur Selection Coordinator Sculptor Aneek Reza, Photojournalist and Documentary Maker Firoz Chowdhury and Rangpur Sammilito Sanskritic Jot Treasurer Golam Mostafa Roni were also present on the stage during the inauguration.
The selection test started immediately after the inauguration was declared. Students were found engrossed in thought during the tests of this Olympiad based on space and physics.
At the end of the examination, there were various arrangements for the students who participated in the program.
Mishkatul Mahzabeen, who was selected from the junior group, said that he got to know about the competition after seeing a poster on the street, “I have been fond of space since childhood. Last night I was scared after seeing the previous questions, I thought I couldn’t do it. Been thinking all night. I feel very happy now.”
The national round will be held in Dhaka on August 3 with the students who have passed the preliminary selection round of various divisions and districts.
The residential camp and final selection phase will be held from August 21 to August 28 with 30 participants including 15 from the senior group and 15 from the junior group in the national phase.
Five students, selected from the residential camp, will represent Bangladesh in the upcoming 28th International Astro-Olympiad. International Asto-Olympiad is going to be organized for the first time in Bangladesh.
