Nazimuddin Shyamol
CHATTOGRAM, May 15: Experimental operations of the first 'Ocean Observation and Data Innovation Centre' in CU will begin on June 9, paving the way to advance educational research and predict disasters 48 to 72 hours in advance without having to wait for foreign agencies, sources at the CU authorities said.
The Chinese ambassador, a five-member Chinese delegation, and the education minister are likely to be present at the inauguration function of the state-of-the-art infrastructure early June.
Sources said the construction project began on March 26 in 2025, with all instrumental and technical support by the Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO), a national ocean research institute under the Ministry of Natural Resources, China. The SIO had previously announced an allocation of Tk 500 million, which funded antennas, archive centres, computers, monitors, and research equipment. The centre has been set up next to the Faculty of Marine Sciences and Fisheries at CU.
The CU authority will provide assistance in receiving all the instruments supplied from China, infrastructure development, security measures, power supply, operating expenses and involvement of skilled teachers in related subjects, all of which has an estimated value of Tk 200 million, including the price of land.
Potential fishing areas in the Bay of Bengal can be determined by analysing sea surface temperature, salinity, current speed and chlorophyll concentration.
Once the centre is operational, data can be collected directly from various sources, including China's HY-1 series and FY-4B satellites. This centre is working to connect with a total of 11 satellites. Partial connections have already been established with about seven of them. Currently, data is being received from multiple Chinese satellites as well as from Japanese and NASA satellites.
nazimuddinshyamol@gmail.com
