Bangabandhu Satellite launching deferred

The date of much-vaunted Bangabandhu Satellite launching is deferred to May 7 from May 4 as its operational tests are yet to be completed, according to sources.

Bangladesh Tele­communication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Shahjahan Mahmood on Tuesday said: “Earlier, the satellite's launching date was fixed on May 4, but now it's likely to be launched on May 7, if everything works out as planned.”

The Bangabandhu Satellite was supposed to be launched on December 16 last year, but the date had been deferred till March this year after Hurricane Irma and subsequent floods hit Florida from where it would be launched. Later, the satellite was planned to be launched on May 4 using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The government has arranged elaborate programmes across the nation to mark the launching of the satellite. It has fixed May 8 as ‘Satellite Day’.

Sources say the government has planned to celebrate the day in 64 districts, where arrangements would be made for watching the satellite launch on large screens at a cost of Tk. 14 crore.

The minister for post, telecommunication and information technology, Mustafa Jabbar, said: “We’ll celebrate the satellite’s launching on May 8. I have spoken to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this regard. If everything works out well, the day will be celebrated in a befitting manner.”

Bangabandhu Satellite launching deferred

The date of much-vaunted Bangabandhu Satellite launching is deferred to May 7 from May 4 as its operational tests are yet to be completed, according to sources. Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Shahjahan Mahmood on Tuesday said: Earlier, the satellites launching date was fixed on May 4, but now its likely to be launched on May 7, if everything works out as planned. The Bangabandhu Satellite was supposed to be launched on December 16 last year, but the date had been deferred till March this year after Hurricane Irma and subsequent floods hit Florida from where it would be launched. Later, the satellite was planned to be launched on May 4 using SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket. The government has arranged elaborate programmes across the nation to mark the launching of the satellite. It has fixed May 8 as Satellite Day. Sources say the government has planned to celebrate the day in 64 districts, where arrangements would be made for watching the satellite launch on large screens at a cost of Tk. 14 crore. The minister for post, telecommunication and information technology, Mustafa Jabbar, said: Well celebrate the satellites launching on May 8. I have spoken to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this regard. If everything works out well, the day will be celebrated in a befitting manner.