Bangladeshi university rover teams faced setbacks as mass visa rejections prevented their participation in the International Rover Challenge (IRC) 2025, held in Goa from 28 January to 2 February.
Despite official invitations, all members of Team Ogrodoot from RUET were denied visas, while only three out of twelve members of Project Altair from IUT were approved, insufficient for competition. Team Mongol Barota from MIST did not apply for visas.
Team leaders cited delays and additional documentation demands from the Indian Assistant High Commission in Rajshahi, describing the process as bureaucratic and restrictive. They expressed disappointment, stating that months of preparation were wasted due to visa barriers.
Both teams had strong records in past IRC competitions, with Project Altair securing top positions, with Project Altair securing first position in the astrobiology expedition segment and standing sixth overall in last year’s challenge.