Bangabandhu Observatory is being set up at Bhangardia village in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur.
Geographically, the Earth is surrounded by east-west equator line, Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. On the other hand, there are four longitudes extending north-south. These are 0 degrees, 90 degrees east, 180 degrees east-west and 90 degrees west longitude. These lines and longitudes intersect or touch the Earth's space at a total of 12 points. Its 10 intersections are located on different seas and oceans. Only two intersections in space above ground. One is in the Sahara desert, the other in the southern part of Bhangardia village in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur. The Tropic of Cancer and 90 degrees east longitude have met at Bhangardia village.
On the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the government has taken initiative to set up a space observation center at Bhangardia village. The Ministry of Science and Technology has undertaken a project at a cost of Tk 222 crore to set up the 100-meter-high Space Observatory Center. People from home and abroad will be able to observe the space through the telescope from that center. The ministry thinks that this will spread science education in the country.
Earlier, discussions were held to set up 'Bangabandhu Observatory' at the same place. Samakal published a detailed report on June 29 last year.
The Ministry of Science and Technology says that where the intersection is in the Sahara Desert, it is not easy for people to travel. Therefore, if an observation center is set up at the only intersection, the participants in various international astronomy or astrophysics Olympiads, including science students from home and abroad, will be able to come and study space science. Foreign tourists will also come to visit this geographically important area.
Science and Technology Minister Yafes Osman told Samakal that the preliminary design of the project has already been done. However, due to Corona, the design could not be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. However, some work has been put forward. He said the project would be a very interesting work if implemented. Because the meeting point of such a line on the ground is geographically important. There is a place in the world in Bangladesh where people can easily go.
Officials at the Ministry of Science and Technology said a DPP has already been prepared for the project, which calls for the center to be completed by June 2023. The Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) has recently met with the DPP. Zafar Iqbal, a professor at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, first mentioned the Tropic of Cancer and the meeting point of 90 degrees east longitude last year. He proposed to set up a 'Bangabandhu Observatory' at the intersection of the meeting to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. The Prime Minister agreed and directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to take up the project. In view of this, a project is being taken to set up this observatory center. The National Museum of Science and Technology will implement this project.
There is an organization under the Ministry of Defense called Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARSO). The institute conducts research in space science and remote sensing technology, forest and environment, agriculture, fisheries, geology, mapping, land use, meteorology, geography and oceanography. For this purpose, an observatory center will be set up in coordination with Sparso instead of an observatory.
According to the project proposal, the main observatory center will be 10 meters in diameter, suitable for one meter diameter reflecting telescope at a height of 100 meters above the ground on a separate installation in the middle of a five-storey enular building on 10 acres of land. It will be composed within the perimeter of the horizontally placed platform. The ground floor of the observatory and the attached annular platform will serve as associate observatories. The significance of the 100 meter height is that it is going to be installed on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. The five-storey Enular building will have office rooms, classrooms, laboratories and residences. The entire project cost will be provided from the government's own funds.
Abul Kalam Azad, chairman of the PEC meeting held on September 18 and a member of the socio-economic infrastructure department of the Planning Commission, said the project site is geographically important and domestic and foreign tourists will visit the project area. Considering that, it is necessary to pay special attention to the beauty of the project area. He emphasizes on the attractive design of the building and the planting of beautifying trees.
According to the minutes of the DPP and PEC meeting, the project has proposed additional expenditure in various sectors including furniture and computers. The PEC meeting questioned the rationale behind the proposal to allocate Tk 11 million for the travel and training of 11 officials in Japan, the United States and European countries. Mohammad Munir Chowdhury, then Director General of the Museum of Science and Technology, said that if seminars and workshops were conducted with local and foreign experts from the revenue budget, it would be logical to reduce the cost of foreign training under the project.
