Nation’s dream satellite Bangabandhu-1 launched

The nation’s dream satellite, Bangabandhu-1, was launched in the early hours of Saturday, reports BSS. 

The historic event of Bangladesh's debut in the space society took place at 2:14 am Bangladesh time when the country's first geostationary communication satellite started its voyage towards the orbital slot from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, the USA.

Falcon 9, the finest rocket of American firm SpaceX, started to carry the satellite to the orbit from the Cape Canaveral launching pad at 4:14 pm US local time.

A Bangladesh delegation, led by Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, witnessed the launching of the satellite, which was visible for around seven minutes in the Florida's clear sky.

"On this day I would like to remember Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who initiated the task of entering the space age by setting up the country's first ever satellite earth station in 1974," said State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who also witnessed the momentous event from Florida. 

He said launching of Bangabandhu-1 satellite is an instance of technology-led transformation of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

"Bangabandhu-1 is also a timely initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has envisioned building Digital Bangladesh by 2021," the state minister said.

People all of ages across the country were awake even after mid-night to watch the live telecast of the country's another proud event. Many people especially the expatriate Bangladeshis in different countries also witnessed the live telecast and webcast of the satellite launching.