The government has started the process to launch another satellite, ‘Bangabandhu-2’, ahead of the expiry of the country’s first satellite ‘Bangabandhu-1’, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday.
The prime minister revealed the information while responding to a supplementary question of independent MP Dr Md Rustum Ali Faraji during the PM's question-answer session in parliament.
She said, "It takes 5-6 years to prepare a satellite....so we're taking preparations to build another satellite.' She also mentioned that the lifetime of a satellite is 15 years, reports UNB.
"We're taking preparations for the second one to launch during the lifespan of the current satellite...when the lifespan of the second satellite will come to an end, we'll go for Bangabandhu-3 and this process will continue," said the prime minister.
Sheikh Hasina said her government wants to move forward keeping with the pace of the world.
"We'll adopt the technology which will come to us...this the era of satellite and we launch ours, let's see what comes next, we'll surely think about the next one when it comes," she said.
Talking about the ‘Bangabandhu-1’, the prime minister said the satellite has reached its orbital and started sending signals. It will take further time to receive clear footage through the satellite.
"When it'll start working, you'll see there's no problem, there is nothing to worry about it," she said while replying to another supplementary question from Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam.
Hasina said the location of the satellite at the 119.1 degree east longitude geostationary slot would not hamper getting clear footage.
Every part of the country, which is now out of internet services, would come under the satellite network, she said.
The slot of the satellite has been hired from Sputnik of Russia. All the Saarc member countries and Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan would be able to use the satellite as its location covers the space of these countries, she added.