Dhaka: State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak has disclosed plans for a collaborative effort between France and Bangladesh to launch the 'Made in Bangladesh' satellite.
Palak highlighted that the earth observation satellite would serve the needs of protecting agriculture, fisheries, addressing climate change, and supporting the blue economy, as well as meeting the requirements of national defense security. All components, including the ground station, data receiving center, processing, and analytics, will be located within Bangladesh. The joint launch of the 'Made in Bangladesh' satellite was announced during a courtesy meeting between State Minister Palak and Stephen Vesval, Vice President of Airbus Defense and Space, France, with the presence of French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupoui.
The meeting covered various issues related to the mutual interests of both countries, emphasizing French government interest in cooperation, particularly in the fields of telecommunications and information technology. State Minister Palak shared the success of Digital Bangladesh and outlined plans to build a Smart Bangladesh by 2041 based on the four pillars of Smart Citizen, Smart Economy, Smart Government, and Smart Society.
Palak expressed the progress made in economic diplomacy between France and Bangladesh, signaling a commitment to further economic prosperity. Additionally, Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) has sealed a deal with France's Airbus Defense and Space for the Bangabandhu-2 Earth Observation Satellite System. The initiative aims to develop the skills of the country's students, researchers, and startups in the space industry, fostering collaboration between the public-private sector and academia for the construction of earth observational satellites.