Russia will build and launch Bangabandhu Satellite-2

A memorandum of understanding has been signed with Russia's Glavkosmos for launching Bangabandhu Satellite-2 into space. The construction phase of the Earth Observatory category satellite is about to begin with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia's state aerospace company Glavkosmos on the creation and launch of a satellite. The MoU was signed at the office of Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) in Dhaka on Wednesday (February 2nd) in the presence of Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mostafa Jabbar. BSCL chairman and chief executive Dr. Shahjahan Mahmud and Dmitry Laskutan, director general of Glavkosmos, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations. The Secretary of the Department of Posts and Telecommunications Md. Khalilur Rahman, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Vikentevich Mantitsky were present at that time. Besides, Bangladesh's Ambassador to Russia Kamrul Ahsan and Dmitry Laskutan, Director General of Glavkosmos were also connected online. Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, the telecom minister said, “The government has taken initiative to build Bangabandhu Satellite-2 in collaboration with the Russian government. Following the implementation of the 2018 Election Manifesto, on 12 December 2021, Bangladesh has entered the Five-G era. We have already signed an agreement with the consortium to connect the third submarine cable, the implementation of which has begun. Our third pledge is to build Bangabandhu Satellite-2. Through the signing of this MoU, that too is going to come true. He termed it as a historic milestone in our national life. Mostafa Jabbar recalled Russia's contribution to the war of liberation with deep gratitude. He expressed hope that the relations between Bangladesh and Russia would be further strengthened in the days to come with the launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-2. The Secretary for Posts and Telecommunications expressed strong hope that Bangabandhu Satellite-2 in space would further accelerate the progress of building Digital Bangladesh. Dr. Shahjahan Mahmud highlighted various contexts of launching Bangabandhu Satellite-2 in space and said, "Bangabandhu Satellite-2 is a unique initiative of the government." The director general of Glavkosmos, said that he was happy for the participation of Russian state institutions in the launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-2.