France expressed interest in launching Bangabandhu Satellite-2

France has expressed interest in assisting Bangladesh in launching Bangabandhu Satellite-2 into space. French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy expressed this interest by meeting the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Mustafa Jabbar at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest, especially the expansion and advancement of telecommunication and digital technology in building Smart Bangladesh.

The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications highlighted the existing excellent relations between Bangladesh and France, two countries that are close friends and said that France is an important development partner of Bangladesh and a true friend.

He said, under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has made amazing progress in digitization in the last 14 and a half years. The successful launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 is one of the achievements of the present government. Through this, Bangladesh has become the 57th proud member of the satellite club. Bangabandhu Satellite-1 is playing an incredible role in establishing digital connectivity in remote areas and uninterrupted digital connectivity during natural calamities along with broadcasting of country's television channels. We are working to implement the announcement of the country's second satellite launch in the election manifesto of the current government.

The minister also said, 'Bangladesh has entered the Five-G era on December 12, 2021, following the implementation of the 2018 election manifesto. The third submarine cable connection is in progress. The minister highlighted the government's progress in various sectors including the telecommunication sector and said that Bangladesh is a very profitable place for investment. Therefore, he expects that France will come forward to invest in the telecommunication sector by using the government's investment-friendly policy. Mr. Mustafa Jabbar also praised the role of France in the entry of Bangladesh into the satellite era by launching Bangabandhu Satellite-1.

In the bilateral meeting, Ambassador Mary Masdupuy praised the progress of Bangladesh's digital technology sector and expressed her efforts to take the historic relationship between Bangladesh and France to a unique height in the coming days.