Hasina sees 'new era' for Bangladesh as Bangabandhu-1 satellite is deployed in orbit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says Bangladesh has entered a ‘new era’ through the launch of its own satellite.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 11 May 2018, 11:28 PM
Updated : 11 May 2018, 11:28 PM

The Bangabandhu-1 was deployed in orbit around half an hour after the launch on a SpaceX rocket from the US early on Saturday.

Hasina, in a video message added to the live webcast by SpaceX, described the launch as ‘another milestone added to the continuous advancement of Bangladesh’.

"Today, we entered a new era…With the launching of the Bangabandhu-1 satellite, we are hoisting our national flag in the space,” she said.

She remembered the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in this ‘very delightful and glorious day for our motherland’.

Besides Bangladesh, services can be provided to a number of countries in South and South East Asia, Hasina said.

She thanked France for helping Bangladesh make the satellite, the US for taking the satellite to orbit, and Russia for leasing the orbital slot to Bangladesh.

Earlier at a programme in Dhaka, she said people need not worry about the launch.

She, however, added she was ‘also upset’ when the countdown suddenly stopped with less than a minute to go before the blastoff early on Friday.