GeoPlan 1.0: The Megaevent of GIS Day Celebration is held in Bangladesh

[TowfiqurRashid]

 

Hello Esri Community!

We are thrilled to share the highlights from a vibrant celebration at the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) in Bangladesh. On Saturday, December 6th, the RUET GIS Club joined with the Urban & Regional Planning Students' Association of RUET (USAR) to jointly celebrate Esri GIS Day and World Town Planning Day in the event- 'GeoPlan 1.0'. The event was sponsored by Sheltech Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and RIT Construction Limited in association with the  Bangladesh Institute of Planners - BIP 

This national-level event brought together over 120 students from various universities across the country, creating a diverse and dynamic environment focused on the power of location intelligence and urban planning.

The event was graced by a distinguished panel of guests who inspired the students with their presence:

• Chief Guest: Prof. Dr. Engr. SM Abdur Razzak, Vice-Chancellor, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET).
• Special Guests:
• Dr. Muhammad Ariful Islam, Executive Director, Sheltech Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
• Prof. Dr. Adil Mohammed Khan, President, Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP).
• Prof. Dr. Md. Rabiul Islam Sarkar, Director of Student Welfare (DSW), RUET.
• Z H M Manjur Murshed, Deputy Director, DSW, RUET.
• Prof. Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Advisor, RUET GIS Club.

The session was presided over by Prof. Dr. Md. Abdul Wakil (Dept. of Urban & Regional Planning, RUET), representing the Session Chair, Prof. Dr. Mst. Ilme Faridatul (Head, Dept. of Urban & Regional Planning, RUET).

 The day featured diverse competition segments, including a Poster competition, a Documentary screening, a Photography contest, Mapathon (Storytelling), and GeoArena (GIS Case Competition).

Keynote Speeches: To bridge the gap between academia and industry, two insightful keynotes were delivered:

1. Shubha Kanti Poddar, Deputy Executive Town Planner at Sheltech Consultants Pvt. Ltd., discussed the "A Transformative Moment: Redefining Urban & Regional Planning in Bangladesh Amid Historic Reforms and Emerging Opportunities."
2. Abdullah Al Rakib, Assistant Town Planner (GIS & RS) at Sheltech Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and Founding President of RUET GIS Club, spoke on "GIS & Research - Transforming Data Into Decisions: Scope and Opportunities."

Competition Winners

The event concluded with an award ceremony recognizing the outstanding technical skills of the participants.

🗺️ Mapathon (ArcGIS StoryMap Competition)

• Champion: Homyra Jabin (Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology)
• Project: The Sinking Island, Tuvalu - A story about the Pacific rapidly stealing the shores
• 1st Runner-up: Md Rifadul Islam Rifat (Pabna University of Science & Technology)
• Project: The Vanishing Blue & The Rising Red: Rajshahi 2035 (An AI-Driven Simulation of Urban Heat Islands and the Extinction of Wetlands in the Barind Tract)
• 2nd Runner-up: Md. Khadem Ali (National University of Bangladesh, Shahid M. Mansur Ali College)
• Project: Vegetation Dynamics in Natore Zila (2015–2025) Using Landsat 8 NDVI on Google Earth Engine.

🌍GeoArena (GIS Case Competition) Challenge: Participants solved a real-time case on Drought Indices and Geodatabase preparation within one hour. Want to see the question? Click here: https://tinylink.net/vjO3d  . We love to see your answers. Mail us at: ruetgisclub@gmail.com

• Champion: Md. Junayed Islam & Md. Ebrahim Rahul (Jahangirnagar University)
• 1st Runner-up: Md. Taofikul Islam (Khulna University)
• 2nd Runner-up: Zahid Hasan & Jubaed Islam (Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology)

Photography Competition: 

• Champion: Dipta Saha (Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology)
• 1st Runner-up: Homyra Jabin (Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology)
• 2nd Runner-up: Md.Meharab Hasan Siddiquei (Jahangirnagar University)

Documentary Competition:

• Champion:  Md. Junayed Islam & Md. Nafiz Imtiaz (Jahangirnagar University)
• 1st Runner-up:  Bidushee Aziz, Mst. Marufa Easmin, Suchana Dutta & Supti Sarker (Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology)
• 2nd Runner-up:  Md Imran Talukdar Shuvo, Ridwan, Md Abdullah, Md Nishat Hossain Sajjad & Naimul Hasan (Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology)

️Poster Competition:

• Champion: Nafis Hasnat Nibir & Md. Junayed Islam (Jahangirnagar University)
• 1st Runner-up: Md Rosly & Afrajur Jaman Shefat (University of Rajshahi)
• 2nd Runner-up: Borsha Ghosh, Masuma Mehjabin, Tanjila Tarannum Adita & Ummay Suraika Soha  (Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology)

Thank you to all the organizers, guests, and participants for making this event a grand success! Here is a snap video of this event. Happy watching!!