Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted the countrymen for successful launching of Bangladesh's first communication satellite into space, saying that it added a new milestone to the path of continued advancement of the country, reports BSS.
"Bangladesh entered a new era as a proud member of the satellite club from today as the flag of Bangladesh has also been hoisted in the space through launching of the Bangabandhu Satellite-1," she said in a televised message after the launch of the artificial satellite manufactured by the Thales Alenia Space of France.
The Block-5 of Falcon 9 rocket of SpaceX is carrying the 3.7-tonne Bangabandhu-1 communication satellite began its journey from the Cape Canaveral launching pad in Florida of the USA at 2:14 am Bangladesh time today.
Sheikh Hasina said apart from Bangladesh the satellite could serve the Asian nations including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Tajakstan and Kazakhstan.
The prime minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of a dignified Bangladesh before the world community while he believed that unless communication with the outside world is not properly maintained it would not be possible to advance the country.
"That's why he established country's first satellite ground station at Betbunia of Rangamati in 1974 just within three and a half years of independence," she said adding that the initiative created opportunities for Bangladesh's enhanced communication links with outside world through exchange of information and data.
The premier extended her heartiest thanks to the Post and Telecommunications Division, BTRC and members of the Bangabandhu Satellite Project for successfully implementing the project recalling that BTRC under the supervision of Post and Telecommunications Division undertook the project to construct and launch Bangabandhu Satellite-1.
Sheikh Hasina also thanked governments and people of France and the USA for extending support to Bangladesh's historic project as well as the government of Russia and its people for providing its orbital slot to Bangladesh on rent.
The prime minister sought the countrymen's "doa" so that Bangladesh could achieve its desired goal through the launching of its first satellite into orbital slot.