[🇧🇩] Space Program in Bangladesh

[Saif]

The CEO of Dhumketu X has said that he needs funding and policy support from the government to move forward with his company. According to him there is no dearth of talents in the country but there is a serious lacking in policy and financial support from the government.

 

[Saif]

How to see the meteor shower from Bangladesh between Aug 12-13

The Perseid meteor shower peaks on 12–13 August, offering spectacular views across Bangladesh. Best spots include Cox’s Bazar, Saint Martin’s Island, Bandarban, and Sylhet. Minimize light pollution, adjust your eyes, and enjoy brighter meteors despite moonlight interference.

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How to see the meteor shower from Bangladesh between Aug 12-13

Photo: Collected / Austin Human / Unsplash

Every August, the night sky has a way of humbling us. The Perseid meteor shower returns, reminding us that above the haze of our everyday lives, there's a theatre of cosmic dust and light. This year, on the nights of 12 and 13 August, Bangladesh will have a clear ticket to this celestial display — if you know where and how to look.

Why We See It

As Earth orbits the Sun, the debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet forms the Perseids meteors. The small microscopic particles burn up in Earth's atmosphere at incredible speed, which in turn creates meteor showers.

Photo: Collected / Juskteez Vu / Unsplash

Best Spots in Bangladesh

Light pollution is your biggest enemy here. While you can catch glimpses from any open field in the outskirts of Dhaka, your best chance lies in the quieter, darker corners of the country.

Cox's Bazar: Go to the quiet hilly side of the city and enjoy the show with the ocean on the horizon.

Saint Martin's Island: Far from the mainland glare, with the bonus of ocean air.

Ruma or Thanchi, Bandarban: Higher altitude, less artificial light, and breath-taking horizons.

Lawachara National Park, Sylhet: Dense Forest surroundings to block stray light sources. If travelling isn't an option, find the darkest open field you can — village edges or riverbanks are ideal.

Do's and Don'ts for Viewing

Do: Give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the dark — skip your phone during this time. It helps if you bring a mat or reclining chair so you won't have to strain your neck to look up.

Don't: Use bright torches unless absolutely necessary; even brief flashes ruin your ability to adjust to low light. Expect a constant downpour of meteors — patience is part of the show. It is ill-advised to shout out every sighting — share quietly so others don't miss their moment.

Photo: Collected / Tengyart / Unsplash

Why This Year Is Still Worth It

Yes, there's a catch: the Moon will be nearly full, washing out many faint meteors. But brighter ones, including the occasional fireball, will still slice through. If anything, spotting them amid the moonlight feels like earning them.

When Clouds Crash the Party

Bangladesh's August skies are almost always going through overcast spells. If the night turns cloudy, don't waste the trip. You can turn it into a campout, tell stories, or stargaze during any clear breaks. The best memories are created during unplanned moments.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

What does Bangladesh’s space research organisation really do?​

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What does Bangladesh’s space research organisation really do? Visual: Teeni and Tuni

India's recent moon landing success raised a lot of curiosity and interest in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The question many people raised was: "Why couldn't we achieve something like this?" Bangladesh's Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO) came under scathing criticism from netizens.

Intrigued, I decided to find out more about SPARRSO from its website.

Founded in 1968 as the American space programme's Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) ground station, it is supposed to contribute to national development by peacefully applying space science and technology (vision statement). In 1972, when NASA launched its Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) – later renamed Landsat – SPARRSO continued active collaboration with it and later with Japanese and European space programmes.

That partnership has continued since. In May last year, NASA integrated its satellite data with observations from Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) to enhance the country's ability to forecast extreme weather events. That means SPARRSO is active, but either it is not informing the public of its work or not meeting expectations. According to its website, SPARRSO had only two achievements in over 50 years: 1) NASA Group Achievement Award in 1986 and 2) Bangladesh Independence Award by its chairman in 1998. It offers only five data sets to the citizens, which are 33 years out-of-date (maps and images covering Dhaka, Chattogram, and Bangladesh, published between 1985 and 1990). There are only eight ongoing research programmes with a combined budget of just under Tk 88 lakh ($80,000 at the current exchange rate). With such a paltry allocation, we cannot expect any earth-shattering (or moon-shattering?) performance.

We, however, must be realistic. SPARRSO's mission is not necessarily sending lunar missions but using space technology for peaceful purposes. As such, it can focus on leveraging this technology and supporting Bangladesh's development journey. A few cases in other countries might clarify this point.

In 2012, India launched a programme called KisaanMitr (Farmers' Friend) to give farmers free personalised weather forecasts (from satellite data) and agricultural advice via SMS three times a day. Research showed that it led to greater compliance with agro-meteorological advisories in scheduling operations based on crop growth cycle. It also increased the use of rainwater as a groundwater or surface irrigation substitute.

In Brazil, the police hardly ever investigated environmental crimes because locating isolated illegal deforestation was difficult. In 2018, it adopted the online forest monitoring platform Global Forest Watch, which detects areas of tree cover loss using satellite imagery. With this, the police can quickly identify areas of illegal deforestation and combat them more effectively.

Senegalese farmers have improved their yields and reduced losses due to disease by monitoring crop health and identifying areas of crop stress with satellite imagery. The programme, in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict crop yields and enhance food security by guiding the farmers, planning food storage and transport, and helping policymakers focus on the most vulnerable communities.

In Kenya, satellites map soil moisture levels with which farmers optimise their irrigation schedules. It improves crop yields and saves water, reducing the risk of crop failure due to drought. The Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) is working on a national digital programme for a satellite-based AI-powered crop monitoring and yield forecasting system. With it, the farmers will make smart and data-driven farming decisions, and monitor crops. Last year, Kenya joined UNCTAD's CropWatch programme to monitor its crops better and protect them from floods and other hazards. CropWatch uses satellite data to monitor crop conditions and integrates this with other climate-related data on drought, pests, and disease for better farm management.

None of these countries, save India, sent satellites into space but effectively uses data from others' satellites. Essentially, they collect relevant data from various sources, process them to produce useful information, and deliver the products effectively to the end users (e.g., farmers).
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Aside from agriculture, there are many other fields where satellite imagery and advanced data processing can offer valuable insights. These include environmental conservation, disaster management, urban planning, infrastructure development, water resources management, public health management, and disease control. Each area can immensely benefit from satellite data but discussing them in a short article is impossible. Using satellite data effectively, Bangladesh can unlock space programmes' transformative potential for a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Here is a case. Landsat satellites cover the earth every 16 days and provide data for free downloading within a few minutes. However, such data are not precise as their pixel size is 30m (i.e., a 30x30m block on the ground becomes one number in the satellite data). These data cannot help in detailed studies that require higher precision. However, commercially available satellites offer accuracy in centimetres, even millimetres. These are expensive and not easily available. SPARRSO can act as a medium to procure such data and disseminate it to government and private users, charging a fee to recover the cost (making it commercially viable).

Bangladesh's space programme can indeed do a lot on the ground. But that needs sustained investment in education, research, joint programmes with universities and research organisations, technology transfer from advanced countries, and a long-term vision. Launching satellites is only one part of a space programme; the more significant part remains how the data is processed to glean valuable insights.​

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Dr Sayeed Ahmed is a consulting engineer and the CEO of Bayside Analytix, a technology-focused strategy and management consulting organisation.​

Space program is a resource intensive long-term exercise. It requires a large and diverse research base and dynamic institutions and visionary leadership. BD should allocate adequate resources, build nice research institutions, forge alliance in advance countries in space like China and US and European space agency and appoint a visionary like Vikram Sara bhai (A Feku Gujarati by Chance, @Bilal9 ). If that happens, BD may start its journey in various areas of space.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Bangladesh is negotiating with France to build 4-6 satellites in future. Bangladesh is emphasizing knowledge/technology transfer and capacity building.

This is a right approach. Start with JV, Slowly build Indigenous capabilities

 

[Saif]

Why Bangladesh should have a planetarium in every division

On a clear evening in a small town in Bangladesh, a child stands outside and looks up at the sky. The stars are visible, scattered across the darkness.

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Why Bangladesh should have a planetarium in every division

Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan

Ensuring children’s access to planetariums can lead to greater interest in science and technology. FILE PHOTO: PRABIR DAS

On a clear evening in a small town in Bangladesh, a child stands outside and looks up at the sky. The stars are visible, scattered across the darkness. She wonders what they are. Are there worlds beyond them? Has anyone from her country ever touched that sky? She returns home with curiosity but without answers. In the division where she lives, there is no planetarium, no observatory, no space museum where imagination meets explanation. Without exposure to such tools, how can she dream or imagine? And without such tools, how can a nation create scientists?

Planetariums are not luxury entertainment halls. They are scientific classrooms. When the lights fade, the domed ceiling transforms into a galaxy, and a narrator explains the mysteries of the universe in simple language. Students travel through the solar system without leaving their seats. Interactive science exhibits allow children to experiment with gravity, light, and motion. Telescopes offer real-time views of the moon’s craters. Space museums display models of rockets, satellites, and planetary systems. Through these, science no longer remains abstract; it becomes tangible, exciting, and human.

Dhaka has had a functioning planetarium since 2004. Rajshahi added one in 2023. The ones in Barishal and Rangpur are under development. But progress generally remains stalled. The Khulna project, though prepared earlier, was not carried forward. Chattogram, Sylhet, and Mymensingh still wait for initiatives that have not begun. For a nation of more than 170 million people and millions of school students, four functioning and/or developing planetariums are not enough. Vast regions remain without access to scientific infrastructure that other countries consider essential.

Even most governments in our region treat science centres as long-term national investments. India operates more than two dozen major planetariums across its states. Many are directly supported by state science departments. Indian space agency programmes frequently collaborate with these institutions to inspire school students. India’s annual space budget is estimated at over $1.5 billion, and its achievements now include lunar landings and Mars missions. These accomplishments did not begin in laboratories alone; they began with generations of students inspired by science education via public outreach.

Malaysia maintains its National Planetarium under its science ministry as a formal public education institution. Singapore associates its science centre and dome theatre closely with schools, ensuring students regularly visit them as part of learning programmes. Thailand operates its Bangkok Planetarium under the education ministry, continuously modernising its projection systems. Sri Lanka, despite economic constraints, maintains a national planetarium and periodically upgrades its facilities. These countries understand something fundamental: scientific curiosity must be cultivated deliberately and nationally.

Globally, space research and astronomy are no longer symbolic pursuits. The US has allocated around $25 billion this year for NASA. China invests heavily in lunar exploration and space stations. The United Arab Emirates, once without a space presence, successfully sent a probe to Mars’ orbit in 2021.

Despite Bangladesh launching a communications satellite, national research and development spending remains a small fraction of GDP. Without consistent investment in science literacy and inspiration, talent risks remaining dormant. A scientific society is not built overnight; it is nurtured through institutions that encourage and satisfy curiosity.

Consider what a divisional planetarium could mean in Khulna, Sylhet, or Chattogram. A student from a coastal district might see a simulation of climate systems and decide to study environmental science. A teenager from the CHT might watch a presentation on astrophysics and choose physics as his major. A school group visiting an observatory might witness Jupiter’s moons through a telescope and realise that astronomy is not distant mythology, but a measurable reality. These are not hypothetical transformations. In Rajshahi, teachers have reported increased interest in science fairs and astronomy clubs following the opening of its planetarium.

A modern divisional planetarium would include a full-dome digital projection theatre capable of displaying immersive space journeys, a science gallery filled with interactive exhibits, a simulation theatre presenting planetary exploration experiences, and a rooftop observatory for live skywatching. Adjacent facilities could house a space museum explaining satellite technology, conducting robotics demonstrations for students, and have lecture halls to host science workshops. Schools would schedule regular visits. Parents would bring children along on the weekends. Thus, science can become a part of public culture.

The issue today is not a lack of design but a lack of continuity. With the Dhaka and Rajshahi planetariums operational, and after the projects in Barishal and Rangpur began, the momentum slowed. Khulna’s prepared project was not advanced further. The ones in Chattogram, Sylhet, and Mymensingh remain without concrete steps. The current government has the opportunity to restore this focus. Reviving the Khulna project would signal commitment to regional equity for scientific access. Initiating new development proposals for the remaining divisions would also demonstrate long-term planning beyond short-term priorities.

Equally important is constant engagement and improvement. Planetariums must actively partner with schools, offer subsidised access to students, organise astronomy nights, host science festivals, and promote programmes through media campaigns. When parents understand the value of scientific exposure, participation grows. When teachers integrate these visits into coursework, curiosity deepens. When young people see their peers presenting robotics projects under the same dome that displays distant galaxies, their own ambition feels attainable.

But how can young people dream of exploring space if they have never seen it properly explained? How can they aspire to become astronomers, engineers, or researchers if there is no place in their region that makes scientific knowledge attainable? A planetarium in every division does not mean extravagance, but rather an investment in knowledge expansion and critical thinking. It will mean preparing for a world increasingly shaped by science and technology.

When a child steps under a planetarium dome and sees the universe unfold, something shifts. The sky is no longer distant. It becomes reachable. And nations that help their children reach for the stars find themselves rising with them.

Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan is assistant professor at the Institute of Education and Research in Jagannath University.​