PM hopeful of launching Bangabandhu satellite

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her firm optimism of launching Bangladesh's maiden communication satellite into the orbit and urged the countrymen not to be disheartened about it.

"There is nothing to be worried about launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 into the orbit. It will be launched Insha Allah and we will surely get it," she said.

The prime minister said, "I will like to tell the countrymen not to be disheartened about the satellite. However, I was also disheartened as the satellite could not be launched for only 46 seconds," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said cancellation of launching satellite (at the last moment) is a normal incident and those who think about the science know it very well. "So there is nothing to be worried ... we must get it," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the 29th National Council of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at the historic Suhrawardhy Udyan in the capital on Friday afternoon as the chief guest. Reports BSS.

Sheikh Hasina said the satellite was supposed to be launched yesterday and all were hopeful about it.

She said the launching of satellite is a sensitive matter and computerized program is made for it. "The countdown of time for launching started last night in Florida Space Centre where Joy (Sajeeb Wazed) and our other people were present there," she said.

The premier said she instructed Joy to phone her immediately after launching of the satellite. "Accordingly Joy phoned me that the satellite will be launched within 15 minutes and the countdown of the time began," she said.

But, she said, the launching stopped when 46 seconds remained. There might be technical reasons for it and despite that the authorities tried to increase time to start it and gave two more hours. But the satellite was not launched as the time expired, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the authorities have time for launching of the satellite today. "It is scheduled to be launched at 4pm US time (2am Bangladesh time) and if it couldn't be launched at the stipulated time, they will give another time slot," she said.

"It's normal incident and I've seen it staying in Florida," she added.

The premier said the launching of satellite could be halted due to various reasons. "When the countdown of time starts, it could be stopped and then the process for launching has to begin afresh," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Florida witnessed snowfall, flood and storms this year. "So the launching of the Bangabandhu satellite was delayed. Not only of Bangladesh's satellite, launching of other satellites were also delayed," she said.

AH