ECNEC Approves ‘Bangabandhu Satellite Launching Project’

The approval was come at the 8th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal held at the NEC conference room in city's Sher-e-Banglanagar with ECNEC chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, after the meeting, told reporters that Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will implement the project by June, 2017.

"Once the satellite is launched, it would save around Taka 110 to Taka 120 crore annually in foreign currency as broadcasting expenditure," he added.

The planning minister informed under the project, two earth stations would be set up at Joydevpur in Gazipur and Betbunia in Rangamati apart from a satellite.

Of the total cost of Taka 2,967.95 crore for the project, the government will provide Taka 1315.51 crore from the national exchequer while the remaining Taka 1652.44 crore will from the suppliers credit or tenderers bidders financing, he added.

Mustafa Kamal hoped many companies would come up with their competitive bids for the project.

He said American firm Space Partnership International will help Bangladesh decision and launching of the satellite. Bangladesh spends around US$ 14 million annually on satellite rents for running television channels, telephones and radio connectivity. "With the launching of the satellite, Bangladesh would be self reliant and there would be no need for renting bandwidth," added Kamal.

The BTRC would purchase an orbital slot on 119 degree East from Intersputnik, a renowned Russian company, with a single lifetime of 15 years.

Currently fifty countries in the world at present have satellites of their own. India and Pakistan are the only countries in the subcontinent with satellites. Sri Lanka is also in the middle of a process for launching one of its own.

The planning minister said the ECENC approved a total of six development projects including the satellite project with an outlay of Taka 4296.63 crore.

"Of the total project cost, Taka 1928.53 crore will come from the national exchequer while Taka 5.03 crore from the organization's own fund and Taka 2363.07 crore as project assistance," he added.

The day's ECNEC meeting gave nod to another project titled 'Procurement of 120 Broad Gauge passenger carriage for Bangladesh Railway' with Taka 975.97 crore to be completed by June 2017.

Of the total project cost, Taka 710.63 crore will come from the Indian government under its Line of Credit (LoC).

The ECNEC meeting approved 'Institute of Livestock Science and Technology' project with Taka 207.38 crore under which five institutes would be set up in Netrakona, Gopalganj, Khulna, Brahmanbaria and Gaibandha districts.

Besides, the ECNEC meeting approved the 'Pre-payment metering for Khulna City (1st phase) with Taka 42.43 crore under which some 31,000 pre-paid meters would be distributed among the consumers of the Khulna city.

Power Division will implement the project by June 2016. Of the project cost, Taka 42.43 crore will come from the national exchequer while Taka 5.03 crore from the own fund of the Organisation. The ECNEC also approved two other projects 'Tamabil Land Port Development' project with Taka 69.26 crore from entirely government fund and 'Nimgachhi society-based fish farming' project with Taka 33.64 crore.

Ministers, State Ministers, Planning Commission members and other high officials attended the meeting.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)