DHAKA: Indian company receded from submitting tender for the installation and post-installation support services of Bangabandhu-1 satellite despite the move of reported lobbying by Indian diplomat for securing tender.
Along with the USA’s company Boeing, India’s Antrix Corporation Limited, those showed interest previously, did not submit the bid documents of ‘Bangabandhu Satellite Launching Project’ on Thursday, the last day of submission.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), however, received bid proposals from four other foreign bidders for Bangladesh's first first-ever geostationary communications satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in 2017.
The four firms are; Thales Alenia Space of France, Great Wall Industry Corporation of China, Orbital ATK of the USA, and MDA (MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associate) of Canada.
The proposals had been opened on Thursday, followed by forwarding to the technical committee for evaluation.
The committee will start evaluating the proposals on Monday, said BTRC commissioner ATM Monirul Alam, who is also head of the technical committee.
BTRC officials were also surprised because of no submission of proposal by the Indian firm. However, earlier they showed interest to secure the project.
Even Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Sharan met BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose at the latter’s office on Wednesday, expressing India’s interest to secure the Bangabandhu-1 satellite bid.
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, government will finance Tk 1,315.51 crore while the winning bidder will provide the remaining Tk 1,652.44 crore.
BTRC has obtained an orbital slot on 119 degree east with a single lifetime of 15 years through a deal with Russia’s INTERSPUTNIK International Organisation of Space Communications.
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.
If the frequency is coordinated appropriately the satellite will be able to serve the SAARC countries, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
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: 1328 HRS, JUN 19, 2015
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** India keen to bid for Bangabandhu Satellite
