DHAKA: Neighboring India has moved for securing the installation and post-installation works of ‘Bangabandhu Satellite Launching Project’ as an Indian diplomat has been reportedly lobbying for tender.
The first-ever domestic geostationary communications satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2017.
According of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) sources, an Indian company, which bought the bid documents of the country's first commercial satellite, will submit the tender on Thursday.
Prior to this possible tender submission, Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Sharan visited the BTRC office in city on Wednesday and held a meeting with BTRC chairman Sunil Kanti Bose.
Officials concerned including the director of Bangabandhu Satellite Project attended the meeting.
Several sources concerned confirmed the matter to banglanews.
However, the issues discussed at the meeting could not be known as all sources declined to describe the matter.
The move to secure Bangabandhu Satellite Project by an Indian diplomat came just 10 days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2-day visit in Dhaka from June 6.
During the visit, the Indian premier expressed his interest to help Bangladesh install its first satellite in the orbit.
Besides the Indian firm, Boeing from the USA, Telus and Orbit from Canada, MDA Corporation from France and Great Wall Industry Corporation of China also bought bid documents of the project.
BTRC sources said the deadline for submitting tender is 2:00pm on Thursday, followed by opening them at 2:30pm in the day.
However, BRTC will begin tender evaluation on Sunday.
On September 16, 2014, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Development Project Proforma (DPP) of the "Bangabandhu Satellite Launching Project" involving Taka 2,967.95 crore.
Of the total amount of Tk 2,967.95 crore, government will provide Tk 1,315.51 crore from the national exchequer while the remaining Tk 1,652.44 crore will be financed by the winning bidder.
BTRC inked a deal with Russian INTERSPUTNIK International Organisation of Space Communications to obtain an orbital slot on 119 degree east with a single lifetime of 15 years.
The cost of the satellite is $410 million (Tk 3,300-crore).
‘Bangabandhu-1’ carries a total of 40-Ku and C-band transponders and capacity of 1600 megahertz with life span of 15 years.
However, Bangladesh spends around 14 million USD annually on satellite rents for running television channels, telephones and radio connectivity.
Once launched, the satellite will save around Tk 110 to Tk 120-crore annually as broadcasting expenditures.
At present, some 50 countries have satellites of their own including India and Pakistan in the subcontinent whereas Sri Lanka is in the middle of a process for launching a satellite of its own.
BDST: 1612 HRS, JUN 17, 2015
HB/RR/SMS
