My News Files

1. Friday, April 22, 2016
Two-day NASA Space Apps Challenge kicks off in the city.
FE Report
The two-day long 2nd
‘NASA Space Apps Challenge 2016’, final hackathon of the world largest
programming contest kicked off at Independent University of Bangladesh (IUB) city campus on
Friday.
The contest in Bangladesh jointly organized by National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) USA and Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Service (BASIS) where
the problems in six specific fields selected by NASA have to be solved by the contributing
programmers to bring solution in the Technology, Anorectics, Space Station, Solar System, Earth
and Journey to Mars categories, a press release said.
Over 200 programmers selected across the country are taking part in the two-day long
hackathon to solve the problem on six specific issues related to the space technologies.
Uttam Kumar Paul, Secretary General of BASIS inaugurated the hackathon at IUB city campus
while BASIS Vice President M Rashidul Hasan, Joint Secretary General Mostafizur Rahman
Sohel, Director Samira Zuberi Himika, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)
Computer Science department Head Prof Dr. Sazzad Hossain, IUB CSE department Head and
Dr. Ashraful Amin, NASA Space App Challenge Bangladesh Convener Ariful Hasan Opu, took
part in the inauguration ceremony.
The young Bangladeshi programmers are developing the solution on security of astronauts,
weather, information as well as different issues of space technologies. There are expert mentors
who stand by the programmers to moderate and develop the programmes with the innovative
projects.
The event is supported by BASIS Students’ Forum and CloudCamp Bangladesh while
Bagdoom.com, Pbazaar.com and PeoplenTech remain as co-sponsor. Independent University of
Bangladesh (IUB), Rajshahi University (RU) and Chittagong Independent University (CIU) are
the academic partners of the event, a press release added.
Recently, final data boot camps held in Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi. Top 50 teams from
local levels are taking in the finale at Dhaka. The winners of the final hackathon will get the
opportunity to participate in the final challenge to be held in the NASA.

2. State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak as the
chief guest will attend the closing ceremony on Saturday.
In the closing ceremony, IUB Vice Chancellor Prof M Omar Rahman joining as special guest
while BASIS President Shameem Ahsan will chair the closing session.
NASA Chief Scientist Ms Ellen Stofan will connect the session through video conferencing, a
press release added.
momentumpl@gmail.com
End/Sanwar Hossain.