Bangladesh Astronomical Association has started its journey in the year 1988 May 5. After attending
a series of astronomy lectures in the Science Museum, Mash-hu-rul Amin
and his other friends grew interested to buy a telescope. As telescopes
were not really available in the market for sale as any other products
those days and were rather expensive, Amin decided to form a club and
raise funds to collect a telescope. Pretty soon, however, the narrow self-centered
goal has been changed. Plan of buying a telescope has turned into a wider
dream of spreading interest and knowledge of astronomy among the general
public. BAA collect a telescope donated by Sajeda Amin & Syad Samiul Islam.
The first step towards this goal was the publication of the magazine
Mohakash Barta. Even before forming BAA, Amin and his other friends had been working
on a literary magazine. Thus, they had the experience necessary to bring out a magazine. At
the same time, the people they had met during work on the literary magazine helped them a
lot with funds and advertisements for Mohakash Barta. Following publication of the
magazine, BAA organized programs to spread awareness and interest about the association and
their work. Initially, the programs were limited among known people.
Gradually, the turnout increased and their goal of reaching out to the
general public was gradually being realized. The magazine started in broadsheet format but
as name of the organization got around, they soon had enough funds to start printing it as
a full-fledged magazine. At present, the high quality design and content of the magazine helps
create an impression. This is possible for cooperation of Graphosman. They sponsor BAA
for last 13th years.
1993 was the biggest turning point in the history of the Bangladesh
Astronomical Association. The first advisor of BAA, Professor Abdul Jabber, passed away.
BAA, decided to come out with an issue of Mohakash Barta based completely on the
late Professor's life and activities. Professor Jabber's interest and involvement in the
activities of the association, drew attention and raise interest among some of the most
renowned academicians of the country, such as Dr. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, Dr. A. R. Khan,
Md. Abdul Matin, Eradat Ullah Chowdhury, Shirin Hosain, Tubaishi Rubab and alike. The
association managed to print a book by the late Professor Md. Abdul Jabbar, called
"Tara-Porichiti". It is still considered the best book for amateur astronomers who
are just beginning to take an interest about the night sky. At the same time, the
association received a lot of support, financial and many other ways from the family
of the deceased.
At present, the association is in an ascending speed. It organized
many programs and events. For example, Tereshkova Festival in collaboration with the
Russian Cultural Centre, to mark the 40 anniversary of the first voyage of a woman into
the space. In the next January, they are planning Spacefest 2005, a 3 days long event
that will consist of seminars, lectures, film shows as well as project work for the kids.
Besides programs and publications of their own, BAA is now the official advisor for the
design of the Vashani Novo Theatre.
The association is run completely by young volunteers and don't have any
hierarchical organizational structure.
By the time, BAA has received 12 telescopes, one of them from a non-resident
Bangladeshi Sajeda Amin and her husband Syed Samiul Islam, and another from professor Dr. Muhammad
Zafar Iqbal. In the near future, BAA plans on reaching out to schools and colleges outside of Dhaka,
in the remote areas of the country as well as organize do-it-yourself science projects for children
all over the country.
At the same time, BAA is also planning to start something new, ther than workshops
and publications on astronomy. They have opened up the explorer wing of BAA, which will be responsible
for arranging trekking trips to Chittagong Hill Tracts and other such areas.
In order to reach people, BAA also has a magazine called
Dolchut meant especially for the popularization of the explorer's wing.
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