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NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019 has kicked off in the city aiming to open data for addressing the real-world problems of earth and space.
Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), along with BASIS Student’s Forum, has organised the competition for the fifth time in a row.
This year more than 4,000 participants have submitted their projects. Of which, top 45 teams have been elected for the 36-hour Hack-a-Thon that will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
NASA has organised the event in 273 cities around the world this year.
Nine cities from Bangladesh - Dhaka, Sylhet, Chattogram, Barisal, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barisal and Cumilla - are participating in the Hack-a-Thon.
This year, approximately 10 million students are participating virtually, whereas 200,000 are competing by being physically present.
NASA Space Apps Challenge Convener Didarul Alam were present at the opening ceremony that took place on Saturday.
"We received more than 2000 projects from six cluster categories", he said.
NASA Space Apps Challenge 2019’s Adviser Mohammad Mahdee-uz-Zaman and Bangladesh-IDEB’s General Secretary (CEC) Md. Shamsur Rahman, among others, were present in the programme.
"Last year, 40 teams were invited to participate in 48-hour Hack-a-Thon. It’s been great honour for us that 'Team Olik' from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology became the World Champion in the Best Use of Data category," Didarul Alam said.
"This year Team Olik has been invited again at NASA Global Champion’s Ceremony. This year we have sorted top 45 projects out of 4,000 projects. We are hopeful about doing better this time", he added.
Adviser of NASA Space Apps Challenge Mohammad Mahdee-uz-Zaman said, "This year NASA has announced five categories which are comprised of 21 sub-categories. Besides, our young and talented scientists will work in weather, moon, planets and other categories.
"Bangladesh has been making constant progress for the past five years. We are hopeful that our flag will occupy much higher position this year", he added.
The prize giving ceremony will take place at Muktijoddha Hall, IDEB, in the capital's Kakrail area after 36-hour Hack-a-Thon that is likely to end at 7:30pm on Sunday.
ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak is expected to be present as the chief guest. Chairman of Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited Dr Shahjahan Mahmood will be present as the special guest.