Yunus Expresses Interest in Collaborating with Elon Musk on Starlink Expansion
Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has expressed his interest in collaborating with American billionaire Elon Musk to unlock the full potential of technology-driven social and economic growth, both in Bangladesh and globally. He stated, “Starlink can be an extended part of Grameen Bank and Grameen Palli Phone, playing a pivotal role in connecting rural women and youth to the global stage. They will emerge as global entrepreneurs.”
During a virtual meeting with Elon Musk on Thursday (February 13) at 9 PM Bangladesh time, Dr. Yunus invited the tech mogul to visit Bangladesh to explore the launch of Starlink services in the country. The Chief Advisor, who was in Dubai at the time, highlighted the significance of this initiative in Bangladesh’s national development.
Musk responded positively to the invitation, saying, “I am looking forward to it.” The discussion also covered the potential cooperation between Starlink and Bangladesh in the future.
According to a statement from the Chief Advisor’s press wing, the meeting was attended by Bangladesh’s High-Level Representative on the Rohingya Crisis and Priority Affairs, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Chief SDG Coordinator Lamia Morshed, SpaceX Vice President Lauren Dreyer, and Global Engagement Advisor Richard Griffiths.
Following the meeting, discussions on Starlink gained momentum among telecommunications and technology experts in the country. Addressing Dr. Yunus’s remark about Starlink potentially being an extension of Grameen Bank, technology entrepreneur A.K.M. Fahim Mashroor clarified that this statement was metaphorical. “Just as Grameen brought technology to ordinary people, Starlink can spread high-speed internet,” he explained.
Former BTRC official and current Chief Technology Consultant of an ISP, Rakibul Hasan, suggested that there could be a partnership between local ISPs and Starlink, particularly in remote areas where mobile data coverage remains inadequate. He drew parallels with how Grameenphone and Grameen Bank initially introduced the Village Lady Communication Business model, stating, “In a similar way, Starlink can work for entrepreneurs.”
Tech writer Zakaria Swapan echoed this sentiment, explaining, “Dr. Yunus implied that just as Grameenphone and Grameen Bank ventured into the Village Lady Communication Business, Starlink can offer services and support entrepreneurs. The service will come naturally—just as it has in other countries, so will it in Bangladesh. The opposition to it could be questioned. However, I do sense an element of diplomacy in this meeting.”
Technology expert Nitin Mohammad Kamruzzaman acknowledged Musk as a businessman and noted Dr. Yunus’s history of bringing major corporations like Telenor into Bangladesh through a transparent process to support marginalized communities. However, he pointed out that Dr. Yunus now holds a state position. “As a state leader, avoiding references to Grameen Bank or Grameenphone would have reduced controversy. That is what diplomacy is about. Nonetheless, Elon Musk will visit, establish a Starlink sales and marketing hub, and use us as a market—nothing new there. But ideally, from our side, we should have positioned it differently, ensuring Starlink invests billions in research, sets up assembly lines, and creates employment for hundreds of researchers, not just focuses on sales and marketing. That would signify real change.”
Regarding the meeting, Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated that Dr. Yunus emphasized the transformative impact of Starlink’s satellite connectivity, particularly for Bangladesh’s entrepreneurial youth, rural women, and underserved populations.
The discussions also explored how high-speed, low-cost internet could bridge Bangladesh’s digital divide, empower marginalized regions with better access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, and integrate millions of micro and small-scale entrepreneurs into the global digital economy. Dr. Yunus remarked, “Integrating Starlink connectivity into Bangladesh’s infrastructure will create new opportunities for millions of people and bring the country closer to the global digital economy.”
During the meeting, Elon Musk praised the Grameen Bank microcredit model and its global impact on poverty alleviation. The Tesla founder noted that he had been familiar with the work of both Grameen Bank and Grameenphone for many years. He expressed strong confidence that technological advancements like Starlink could accelerate innovation, economic empowerment, and financial inclusion in Bangladesh.
Dr. Yunus extended an invitation to Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh to explore the feasibility of launching Starlink services. Musk responded positively, stating, “I am looking forward to it.”
The meeting was seen as a significant step toward bringing advanced satellite connectivity to Bangladesh, fostering national economic growth, digital inclusion, and innovation. The official statement further mentioned that both sides agreed to expedite progress on the initiative, assigning Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Lauren Dreyer, and Richard Griffiths to coordinate the next steps.
Meanwhile, the Dutch-based telecommunications company VEON Limited, the parent company of Banglalink, has already initiated efforts to bring Starlink’s satellite service to Bangladesh’s remote areas. In January, VEON announced its partnership with Starlink at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. VEON’s CEO, Kaan Terzioğlu, stated that the company intends to expand its collaboration with Starlink, enabling satellite-based connectivity not only in Bangladesh but also in Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Following this announcement, Banglalink submitted an application to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to introduce broadband services via Starlink, a move that has already drawn criticism from local internet service providers.
