15 October, 2005

BANGLADESH CELEBRATES WORLD SPACE WEEK-2005

The Inaugural Ceremony of World Space Week-2005 was held in the Auditorium of Mirpur Bangla High School on the morning of October 4. Among others who had deleivered their important lectures in the Meeting were Dr. A. R. Khan, the President of Bangladesh Astronomical Society and the former Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, University of Dhaka, Dr. Ali Asgar, the former Head of the Department of Physics, Bangladesh University of Science & Technology, Dr. Mobarak Ali Akand, the former Director of the Science Museum, Dhaka, Mr. F. R. Sarker, the General Secretary of Bangladesh Astronomical Society and the National Coordinator of World Space Week in Bangladesh, Mr. Abdul Mannan, the Acting Head Master, Mirpur Bangla High School, Mr. S. M. Selim, Member of the Managing Committee of this School and Master Amit, a kid Astronomer. The speakers explained at length the necessity for invigorating Space Education among the students in Bangladesh and urged the government to create appropriate infrastructure helping them to gear up their studies and researches on this important sector. It was attended by a large numbers of students overflowing the pace of the Auditorium. The Meeting was followed by a display of Video Show on Space Exploration.

The biggest Show of the World Space week-2005 was held at Enayetpur a tiny village under Sirajgong district about 80 miles northeast of Dhaka. on the morning of October 6, over the spur built in the river Jamuna extending about half a kilometer from the village. It was an ideal place where sunny weather and gentle breeze blowing from the vast sparse of the river kept the audience happy. The Meeting was scheduled to start at 10am. Being the first day of Ramadan, the organizers of WSW-2005 anticipated scanty attendance of the audience in this event but within 9.30am the entire area was packed up with them and more people were converging into the meeting place. It was a deluge of space enthusiasts beyond the comprehension of the organizers so they had to declare the Meeting closed within 30 minutes with apprehension that the throng might create stampede risking the lives of the children attending it.

During the short span of Meeting, among those who had delivered their lectures were Mr. Abdul Matin, Assistant Head Master, Enayetpur High School, Mr. Badal Chandra Roy, Head Master Meherunnessa Girls School, Mr. Ahmed Mustafa Khan, Chairman, Kisholoya Kindergarten School, Mr. F. R. Sarker, General Secretary, Bangladesh Astronomical Society and National Coordinator for World Space week in Bangladesh, Mr. Saidul Islam, Mr. Wahiduzzaman Wahid, Mosharraf Khan, Members of the Society. After the Meeting, a big colourful Rally marched past the main roads of the village where thousands of students and ordinary people had participated. The function ended peacefully and the people of the entire village found it as an unusual event but enjoyed with great joys and spontaneous gaiety. However, lots of people who were still walking on the way to the meeting place were shocked for failing to attend this unique and unprecedented event going in this remote corner of the country. However, the organisres are tempted and encouraged by the deluge of the enthusiasts attending their event and they are now preparing to arrange a “ Space Fair ” at Enayetpur in near future to show to the world community that there are some crazy people around the locality who love Space from the core of their hearts.

At Inaugural Ceremony of World Space Week-2005, speakers seen seated in the dais from left are Dr. Mobarak Ali Akand, Dr. Ali Asgar, Dr. A. R. Khan, Mr. F. R. Sarker and Master Amit
Students gathered in the Auditorium of Mirpur Bangla High School are attentively hearing the lectures delivered by the speakers.
Students are enjoying the Video Show on Space Exploration.
Thousands of Students and Space Enthusiasts tightly converged in the venue of WSW-2005 Celebration set up on a spur extending over the River Jamuna, at Enayetpur, Bangladesh
Mr. F. R. Sarker delivering his main speech in the Meeting.
Colourful Parade is passing under the main gate of WSW-2005 Celebration site at Enayetpur.
Students and Space Enthusiasts in Colourful Parade are coming out from the Venue of the WSW-2005 Celebration site at Enayetpur.
Some school students are hurredly marching over the street of Enayetpur chanting slogans with joys and jubilation to attend the WSW-2005 Celebration.
After completion of Meeting of WSW -2005, the Students and Space Enthusiasts are happily passing over the street of Enayetpur chanting slogans and carrying Banner and Space Models in their hands.
All Space Enthusiats are not only human beings, some Birds also have the knack for Space who are seen seated on the bamboo made fishing net structure built by the side of the dais to attentively enjoy the WSW-2005 Celebration going over their domain.