In a landmark achievement for Bangladesh’s deep-sea technology sector, Team MarineWatch — established under the initiative of Oxygen Robotics — has been selected to compete in the internationally recognized TAC Challenge 2026, hosted by the TAU Autonomy Center in Norway. This marks the first time any Bangladeshi team has earned a place at this prestigious competition.
Bangladesh Steps onto the Global Stage
The TAC Challenge 2026 is a highly competitive international event where leading teams from around the world demonstrate their capabilities in Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) technology — robotic systems that operate independently beneath the ocean’s surface without any human intervention. Team MarineWatch’s selection is being recognized as a significant milestone for Bangladesh’s engineering and deep-tech ecosystem.
Simultaneously, the team has successfully cleared the technical qualification round of the Teknofest Unmanned Underwater Systems Competition 2026. They are now advancing through the Critical Design Review (CDR) stage — and if cleared, the team will compete in the global final scheduled for August in Turkey. Notably, no Bangladeshi team has ever reached the final of this competition in Teknofest’s history.
About the Team
Team MarineWatch was formed under the leadership of Najmus Saadat Fahim, Executive Director of Oxygen Robotics, and Ilham Sajid, Executive Chairman. The team brings together talented students from schools, colleges, and universities across Bangladesh under a single mission.
The team is captained by Rahat Hasan Shihab, who previously led the IUB BongoMarine team. Divisional leads are as follows:
- Electrical Division: Tahfizul Hasan Zihan
- Mechanical Division: Imdadullah Raji
- Software Division: Syed Nazmus Sakib
Other team members include Limon Babu, Shahnewaj Hridoy, Nabil Rahman, Zubayer Hasan Shaad, Mahdi Bin Ferdaus, and Mir Muhammad Abidul Haq Ahnaf.
The team draws members from some of Bangladesh’s most respected institutions — including the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), University of Dhaka, Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), and Dhaka Residential Model College (DRMC).
Statement from the Faculty Advisor
Shifat E Arman, Assistant Professor of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Dhaka and faculty advisor to the team, commented:
“The greatest strength of this team is the diversity of their expertise. We have members who are World Robotics Olympiad champions, NASA Conrad Challenge finalists, and Singapore AUV Challenge participants — all working together toward one goal. In many ways, this is the ‘Avengers’ of Bangladesh’s young tech community.”
Partnerships and the Road Ahead
Fab Lab IUB is currently serving as the team’s Technical Partner, while Robodemy has joined as Collaborative Partner. As the team prepares for the international stage, they are actively seeking additional sponsors and strategic partners to support their campaign.
Team members emphasize that this initiative goes far beyond a robotics competition. It represents a bold statement of Bangladesh’s capacity for deep-tech innovation and the ability of its youth to compete — and win — on the world stage.
About Oxygen Robotics
Oxygen Robotics is a Bangladesh-based technology initiative dedicated to engaging young students in cutting-edge research and innovation. From deep-sea robotics to autonomous vehicle technology, the organization actively contributes to advancing Bangladesh’s position in the global technology landscape.
