Bangladesh’s lone aviation and aerospace univ prioritises research, development

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Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University has enhanced research and development activities in four areas in line with the nation’s goal of becoming a knowledge-based country by 2041.
The thrust areas chosen for the BSMRAAU are constructing prototype single-engine light aircraft, medium-range drones, nano satellites and indigenous rockets, said the university’s vice-chancellor Air Vice-Marshal Muhammad Nazrul Islam at his Tejgaon office in the capital during a recent interview with New Age.
He noted that the National Perspective Plan 2041 identified the requirement of professional and skilled human resources for the country’s aviation and aerospace sector.
While elaborating updates on the institution’s R & D activities, he narrated how they were trying to enlist services of non-resident Bangladeshi experts to overcome the shortage of quality teachers by paying them affordable consultancy fees.
The VC also said that they were going to shift the university campus from the capital’s Tejgaon in July to its permanent site in Lalmonirhat, a northern town, over 300 kilometres from the capital.
Nazrul Islam, who was appointed as the VC of the country’s lone aviation and aerospace university in July 2021, said that the entity had been giving research and development priority since its inception in February 2019.
According to Nazrul, the lack of research has been a major reason for the country’s low progress in technology, he said.
He stated that the BSMRAAU was going to start building prototype single-engine light aircraft soon with assistance from the country’s Air Force.
Hangers and sites are ready for such aircraft while the import procedures for equipment will be completed soon, he also said.
The production of medium-range drones, which would be able to travel beyond 100 kilometres, has been made a priority for the institution, with emphasis on the development of nano satellites and rockets to capitalise on students’ enthusiasm for research and development.
Already, the fund for the R & D component has been raised 10 times in the current financial year compared with the previous financial year, he said without disclosing the amount.
According to the BSMRAAU VC, drones can be used extensively for agriculture and tourism purposes while the demand for the item in the maritime sector is also high.
He disclosed that they were also developing nano satellites and rockets.
‘Rocket is an integral part of space science,’ he said, adding that they are advancing in this regard in a very methodical ways as rocket science is very critical.
Computer modelling of rocket designs is under way after designs have been completed, he said.
He disclosed that they were also using help from the Air Force to run physical tests of rockets in the coming days.
The university, he went on to say, has entered into collaboration with a number of reputed universities, institutions, research centres and experts for all its four priority areas.
‘We have signed MoUs with the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh, leading industry manufacturers like the Airbus and Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group of Canada, higher educational institutions like Dhaka University, Cranfield University and the University of Surrey in the UK and Shenyang Aerospace in China to name a few,’ he said.
He also said that eminent Indian space scientist and former chair of Indian Space Research Organisation Professor AS Kiran Kumar, pro-vice-chancellor of Cranfield University Professor Dame Helen Atkinson and Professor Nazmul Ula of Loyola Maryland University of the US conducted sessions in training events.
To read the full interview, please log into www.newagebd.net