DHAKA: The launching of Bangladesh’s first satellite ‘Bangabandhu-1’ has been deferred to May 7, which was slated to be launched on May 4.

Post Telecom & ICT Minister Mustafa Jabbar confirmed the decision in a discussion at Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) conference room Wednesday morning (April 25).

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: 1359 HRS, APR 25, 2018
SI