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Why satellite mission from the US?
Zakaria Swapan, Technologist: It is great to have Bangabandhu I satellite. It also feels good. And there is no reason for feeling bad in this regard. Like the rest of the countrymen, I also feel proud over matter of the satellite being sent into the space. Though we did not manufacture it, Bangladesh owns Bangabandhu I satellite. We are the ones who will use it, which belongs to us. It glorifies us. We will be using half the satellite launched, while the other half will be sold out. The BTRC has already explained the matter. Television stations of our country will use the half. The satellite will be in use when the D2 service starts. Areas that are currently not getting access to the Internet will come under the Internet coverage once the satellite starts its operation. However, Bangladesh is yet to start Internet service through satellite. We are availing the service through submarine cable or cyber optic instead. Since we have our own satellite, we can make best use of it.
The BTRC will decide where the satellite will be controlled from. They did what they considered good (for the project). Since we do not have our own capacity, we have to depend on foreign organisations or countries in this case. Maybe the authorities concerned have taken into consideration the matter of many satellites being launched from the US when it came to the launching of Bangabandhu I satellite from the same country.This could have been done from Russia and or any other country. But most accessories required are sourced from America, which may have caused Bangladesh’s maiden satellite to be launched from there. Definitely, the US is the best space for satellite launching. Hence, the best spot was picked up so no doubt surfaces. I guess the decision to launch the satellite from the US was correct.