DHAKA: Finally, the Bangabandhu Satellite-1, the first satellite of Bangladesh, is scheduled to be launched on May 4.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Shahjahan Mahmud said on Wednesday (April 11).

The satellite will be launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral after inaugurating it through switching on by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Dhaka.

The satellite will be sent into orbit by a rocket ‘Falcon-9’ of Space X of United States. 

Bangladesh will become the 57th satellite-owning country after launching the Bangabandhu-1 satellite in the orbital slot on 119.1 degrees east longitude.

The satellite will be control from Bangladesh. Therefore, construction work of two ground stations, one in Gazipur's Joydebpur and the other in Rangamati's Betbunia, are close to finish. 

It is expected to save Tk 125 crore a year that is currently spent on renting foreign satellites.

BDST: 1458 HRS, APR 11, 2018

AH