Bangladesh edition of NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 begins

Bangladesh edition of NASA Space Apps Challenge-2024 began here today (4 October) to continue for an uninterrupted 36 hours with the promise to be a thrilling contest of ideas and innovation.

Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), in collaboration with the BASIS Students' Forum, organised the two-day event at the American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB).

The closing ceremony of the hackathon is scheduled to take place tomorrow (5 October) at 6:00pm, said a BASIS press release.

Over the past decade, Bangladesh conquered global championships in the competition four times, including three in a row.

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States, brings together young talents from 185 countries across various fields - technologists, scientists, designers, artists, educators, and entrepreneurs - to find innovative solutions to global challenges.

As part of this initiative, BASIS is organising the competition in nine cities across Bangladesh - Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Cumilla.

Over 3,000 participants from these nine cities in Bangladesh are competing in this year's hackathon. Of the 500 total projects, the top 50 are being evaluated in a hybrid model at AIUB, while the remaining 450 projects are being judged online.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, AIUB Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Abdur Rahman said, "We're moving forward with the vision of building a new, prosperous Bangladesh. To achieve this, we need equal development in all areas of technology."

"Encouraging our youth is crucial for this technological advancement, and through their innovation, we can realize our goal of a prosperous Bangladesh," he said, adding that competitions like NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 will further inspire the country's youth towards science and technology.

Expressing his gratitude for the sacrifices of those killed and injured during the recent mass uprising, BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed said, "Today, we have the new Bangladesh. Now, it's time to build a prosperous nation."

NASA Space Apps Challenge is a small step in this journey, he said, adding, "Through this challenge, you have the responsibility to fulfil the unfinished dreams of people like Sayed, Mugdha, and Tanvin."

BASIS Senior Vice-president M Rashidul Hasan, Vice-President (Finance) Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan, BASIS Directors Mir Shahrukh Islam and Biplob Ghosh Rahul, NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024 Convener Abhijit Bhowmik, and Advisor for the Bangladesh chapter, Mohammad Mahdee-uz-Zaman, among others, were present at the inauguration ceremony.

In 2018, the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology's "Team Olik" became world champions in the "Best Use of Data" category with their "Lunar VR Project", which allowed users to experience a virtual journey to the moon.

Besides, in 2021, the combined team from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology (BAUET), known as "Team Mohakash", won the global title in the "Best Mission Concept" category. In 2022, "Team Diamonds" secured the global championship in the "Most Inspirational" category, while in 2023, "Team Voyagers" claimed the "Best Storytelling" category.

However, after 36 hours of non-stop hacking, the closing ceremony will be held at 6:00 PM at AIUB where Planning and Education Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud is scheduled to attend as the Chief Guest. Nadia Anwar, Founding Member and Chairperson of the AIUB Board of Trustees, would grace the occasion as the Guest of Honor.