Play store
Six flags lay neatly folded on a table inside the Russian House in Dhaka. Outside, the city of Dhanmondi moved as usual. Inside, six teenagers stood a little taller than before, their parents watching quietly from behind. Months of exams, training and waiting had led to this moment.
In November, these six students will travel to Russia to represent Bangladesh at the Open World Astronomy Olympiad. But before the journey begins, there was this symbolic moment — a flag passed from hand to hand, turning individual achievement into national pride.
The road to selection was long and demanding. More than 2,500 students from across the country sat for an online exam on 3 July. Over the following weeks, 650 advanced to regional rounds held in ten districts. By 31 July, 268 finalists gathered at East West University for the national round.
From there, 30 students — split equally between junior and senior groups — were selected for an intensive Astro Camp held at SPARRSO from 6 to 8 August. They trained for eight hours a day under the guidance of university faculty, scientists, and international instructors. At the end of the rigorous process, only six names remained.
Three senior students — Rajorshi Das Gupta (Chattogram College), Md Mokhdum Amin Fahim (Police Lines Secondary School, Jashore), and Md Arafat Hossain Alif (Rajshahi Collegiate School) — and three junior students — Md Zubayer Hossain Jisan (Rajshahi Collegiate School), S.R. Anubhav Roy Anu (The Millennium Stars School and College, Rangpur), and Labib Mashrafi (Military Collegiate School Khulna) — earned the honour.
Notably, none of them came from Dhaka — a detail that drew both surprise and pride from Professor Dr. Harun-ar-Rashid of BUET. Addressing the students, he reminded them, “A person is as big as their dream,” while urging them to understand science not just through formulas, but through logic.
For many involved, the Olympiad is about more than medals. Sukanta Sarkar of the National Museum of Science and Technology described it as a way to awaken curiosity and expand imagination beyond borders. Others spoke of future opportunities — collaborations with global institutions, satellite programmes, and even the possibility of space exploration.
Speakers also acknowledged the role of parents, whose support made the journey possible. Their investment, both emotional and financial, stood behind every step the students had taken.
At the ceremony’s end, each student received the national flag from organisers and officials, symbolising their responsibility as representatives of Bangladesh. What began as a competition had become something larger — a shared hope.
In the months ahead, the six students will continue their preparation, balancing studies with intensive Olympiad training. When they arrive in Russia, they will carry more than knowledge — they will carry a flag, a journey, and the dreams of a nation reaching for the stars.