Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), along with BASIS Student’s Forum, has organized NASA Space Apps Challenge for the fifth time in a row. The partner of NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019 - Bangladesh is - Skill Development for Mobile Game & Application Project under ICT Division, Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh. (IDEB). The Gold Sponsor of this event is Evaly and internet partner is Aamra Networks Limited.
This year more than 4000 participants have submitted their project. Out of them top 45 teams are selected for the Hack-a-Thon. The teams will fight in 36 hours long Hack-a-Thon on Oct 19-20.
This year, NASA has organized this event in 273 cities globally. From Bangladesh, nine cities (Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Barishal, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, and Cumilla) have participated in this global Hack-a-Thon. This year’s campaign involved approximately 1 core students virtually and approximately 2,00,000 students took part physically in this event.
NASA Space Apps Challenge convener Didarul Alam was present at the opening ceremony on Saturday (Oct 19). NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019’s Adviser Mohammad Mahdee-uz-Zaman, Bangladesh-IDEB’s General Secretary (CEC) Md. Shamsur Rahman, was also present.
BASIS President Syed Almas Kabir said, "NASA Space Apps Challenge is an international mass collaboration focused on space exploration that takes place over 36-hours in 273 cities around the world.
Convener of NASA Space Apps Challenge Didarul Alam said, "Last year, we received more than 2,000 projects from six cluster categories. Among them 40 teams were invited to participate at 48 hours global Hack-a-Thon. It’s been great honor for us that, Team Olik from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Bangladesh became the World Champion at Best Use of Data Category. This year Team Olik has been invited again at NASA Global Champion’s Ceremony. Also, this year we have sorted top 45 projects out of 4,000 projects. We are hopeful to do better this time."
Adviser of NASA Space Apps Challenge Mohammad Mahdee-uz-Zaman said, "This year NASA has announced five challenge categories comprising 21 sub-categories. Besides, our young and talented scientists will work on categories like weather, moon, planets near and far and many more. Bangladesh is constantly making progress for the past five years, we are hopeful that Bangladesh’s flag will be uploaded much higher this year."
After 36 hours 'Hack-a-Thon', the prize giving ceremony will take place on Sunday (Oct 20) evening at Muktijoddha Hall, IDEB, Kakrail, Dhaka. ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP will grace the location as the chief guest. Chairman of Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited Dr. Shahjahan Mahmood will be present as the special guest.
