Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the country's first communication satellite, Bangabandhu-1, will open up new opportunities for new generation.
She also expressed her firm conviction that the satellite would play a pivotal role in overall development of the country.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on Tuesday, reports BSS.
The programme was organised for celebrating successful launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 and inauguration of its ground stations at Gazipur and Betbunia.
“Through the satellite we would be able to know the whole world and our children would be able to learn about space and nuclear technology, marine science and other areas of science, culture and nature which would be useful for them as well as country’s development,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had laid the foundation stone of the country’s first satellite station at Betbunia in Rangamati.
"But after his brutal death the space technology didn’t get due importance to flourish," she said.
Bangladesh has emerged as the 57th country having Satellite in the space and 34th nation of constructing nuclear power plant, the prime minister said, adding that “we have to hold up the dignity and take the country forward.”
The premier said her government has attached importance to development of the entire country.
"The government is striving to create a democratic atmosphere and ensure the rights of the people to food and franchise," she added.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, PM’s advisor on ICT affairs Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak attended the function as special guests with post, telecommunications and ICT minister Mustafa Jabbar in the chair.
Secretary of the post, telecommunication ministry Shyam Sundar Sikder and Chairman of Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Ltd. Dr Shajahan Mahmud also spoke on the occasion.
Cabinet members, PM’s advisors, chiefs of naval and air forces, parliament members, diplomats of different countries and civil and military officials attended the function.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the two ground stations for Bangabandhu Satellite-1 through video conferencing with the officials of the Gazipur and Rangamati districts and engineers of the stations.
She also released commemorative stamps issued by the postal department on the occasion.
The ground stations were named after PM’s ICT advisor Sajeeb Wazed in recognition of his contribution to successful launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 and development of space and digital technology in Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina said her government after assuming office in 1996 had taken steps to provide modern education on computer technology to the people.
Now about 90 million people use internet while 130 million mobile SIMs are being used in the country.
She said information technology is being used for ‘learning and earning’ and many unemployed rural youths have found their employment opportunities in the IT sector.
Government services were made available for people from 5,275 digital centres across the country.
She urged everybody to help continue the ongoing development of the country and execution of the more plans of the government in the socioeconomic areas for further advancement of the nation.
The Prime Minister said taking office after 21 years of brutal killing of Bangabandhu, her government had taken initiatives to attain food autarky as the prime and foremost task.
The Awami League government had also attached utmost importance to education on science and technology, she added.
Awami league government after coming to office in 1996, has upgraded the analogue system of telecommunication to digital, she said.
"Television, radio and other modes of communication system were opened to private sector aimed at developing of the sectors as well as creating job opportunities," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said a peace treaty was signed to bring normalcy in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) while mobile network was expanded to ensure its socioeconomic development.
The Prime Minister congratulated the concerned engineers and officials who worked for successful launching of the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 in the space and inaugurating satellite ground stations at Gazipur and Betubunya.
Sheikh Hasina said she has no personal ambition or choice except building Bangladesh as a peaceful and prosperous country as dreamt by Father of the Nation.
Launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 is one step forward to achieve the goal, she added.