Bangabandhu-1 to open up huge opportunities for Bangladesh: France

FT ONLINE

The France government has said the Bangabandhu-1 satellite will open up a wide range of opportunities for Bangladesh among which broadcasting and weather forecasting services and high-speed internet connectivity in hard-to-reach areas.

"We congratulate the government and the people of Bangladesh for entering a new era, as underlined by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," said the France Embassy in Dhaka on Sunday.

It is an important step forward in the country’s digital advancement, reads the statement.

The government of France has supported the satellite Bangabandhu-1 project from its inception and wishes to thank the French company Thales Alenia Space, designer and manufacturer of the satellite, as well as the US launching company Space X, for their full success in its realization and launch.

Initial connections have already been established with Gazipur and Rangamati ground stations, while the satellite Bangabandhu is running its smooth sailing towards its orbit.

"We express our heartiest appreciation to all the partners and actors of this spatial endeavor," said the France Embassy.

It said it is very happy to join the sharing pride of Bangladesh after the successful launch of the satellite Bangabanhdu-1, on May 11.

"Bangladesh is now the 57th nation in the world and the fourth in South Asia to own a communication satellite," it said.