BSCL, Thales Alenia Sign MoU to Boost Bangladesh’s Earth Observation Capacity
Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Europe’s leading space technology firm Thales Alenia Space to strengthen the country’s Earth Observation (EO) capabilities.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday, 9 December, at the conference room of the Posts and Telecommunications Division in the presence of Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, and Antonio Alessandro, the Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh.
BSCL Managing Director and CEO Dr. Muhammad Imadur Rahman and representatives from Thales Alenia Space signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.
The ceremony was attended by Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, senior officials of Thales Alenia Space, and other high-ranking officials of the division.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will undertake pilot projects on satellite EO data in priority national sectors, including disaster management, climate monitoring, agriculture, and urban planning. The partnership will also facilitate local capacity building, knowledge exchange, and technology transfer.
Speaking at the event, Special Assistant Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb described Italy as a “trusted friend and partner,” expressing gratitude for Italy’s continued support for Bangladesh.
He emphasised that Bangladesh is prioritising advanced technologies—particularly satellite and space-based solutions—to strengthen land management, agriculture, disaster prediction, climate resilience, and national security.
“Every year, around 25,000 technology graduates enter the workforce. Creating opportunities for them is our national responsibility,” he said, stressing the need for a national satellite image repository and unified data access for all ministries.
Taiyeb also urged Thales Alenia Space to expand collaboration on capacity development, institutional training, university partnerships, and cybersecurity. He said Bangladesh could accelerate its digital transformation by leveraging global best practices.
“This MoU will open new avenues of cooperation between Bangladesh and Italy in emerging technology sectors,” he added.
Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro said Earth Observation and satellite technology are strategically vital for Bangladesh. He highlighted that the programme’s combination of optical and radar imaging makes it particularly suitable for Bangladesh’s terrain and weather conditions.
He reaffirmed Italy’s strong commitment to Bangladesh’s digitalisation, modernisation, and technological progress, expressing readiness to strengthen long-term partnerships.
DBTech/JEU/IH/OR
