Experts at an event on Friday stressed developing all sectors of technology equally to reach the goal of building SMART Bangladesh.
The expressed need to encourage youth to get involved in science and technology and in research works in this fields.
The remarks came at the inauguration of the 9th NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023 organised by Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), in collaboration with BASIS Students Forum.
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is implementing this program with the aim of bringing together talented young people from different fields such as technicians, scientists, designers, artists, educators, entrepreneurs from 185 countries of the world to find innovative solutions to solve various global problems of the world.
As part of this project, BASIS has organized in 9 cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chattagram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Cumilla). In addition to engaging one crore students through social media, the NASA Space Apps Challenge is planning to engage 2 lakh students directly through the competition.
This time more than 2 thousand contestants from 9 different cities of the country have participated. From there, out of the top 210 projects, top 50 projects will participate in hybrid model in person and the remaining 160 projects through online in the two-day long Hack-a-Thon which is taking place at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) from October 6-7, 2023.
Md Shamsul Arefin, Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT) was present as the chief guest in the opening ceremony while Russell T. Ahmed, President of BASIS, Tanvir Hossain Khan, Convener of NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023 and BASIS Director, Mohammad Mahdee-uz-Zaman and Ariful Hasan Opu, Adviser of NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023 were present at the opening ceremony.
ICT Secretary Md. Samsul Arefin said, "It is very important to make 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.”
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 champion for three times. When we see one of you going to NASA and holding the flag of Bangladesh, this makes us feel proud.
“Then we feel that we have successfully organized the programme. 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”, he added.
