Bangladesh has taken a significant step toward entering the global space economy by launching a feasibility study to assess the development of indigenous rockets, satellite manufacturing facilities, and a dedicated space industrial park. The initiative is being led by the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO) as part of a long term plan to strengthen technological self reliance and reduce dependence on foreign space services.
SPARRSO signed an agreement last month with Development Design Consultants Limited to conduct the feasibility study at a cost of around Tk 1.35 crore. According to officials, the consultant will submit a comprehensive feasibility report along with a preliminary project design by June 2026. The study will focus on three key components: a rocket manufacturing and launch station, a satellite manufacturing facility with an Assembly Integration and Test AIT laboratory, and a high tech space industrial park.
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Officials said the initiative is aligned with Bangladesh’s ambition to tap into the rapidly expanding global space economy, now valued at over one trillion dollars. More than 11,000 satellites are currently in orbit worldwide, supporting telecommunications, navigation, weather forecasting, disaster management, agriculture, and national security. SPARRSO believes Bangladesh has both strategic need and economic potential to become an active participant in this sector.
Mohammad Shohidul Islam, principal scientific officer at SPARRSO, said the initial plan is to begin rocket manufacturing by importing components and assembling them locally. As technical expertise grows, Bangladesh could gradually move toward full indigenous rocket production. He noted that countries like India earn foreign currency by launching satellites for other nations and said Bangladesh could explore similar commercial opportunities through a domestic launch station.
SPARRSO is currently assessing several coastal locations for the proposed rocket launch facility, including Kalapara in Patuakhali, Anwara in Chattogram, and areas near the Sundarbans. Final site selection, along with cost estimates and investment requirements, will be determined after the feasibility study is completed. Officials said a local launch station would strengthen national space security, protect orbital slot interests, and significantly reduce satellite launch costs.
At present, launching a satellite from Europe can cost Bangladesh around Tk 2,000 crore. SPARRSO estimates that building and launching a satellite domestically could cost less than half that amount. In addition, high resolution satellite data currently costs about Tk 40 crore per dataset, making regular access difficult due to budget constraints. Delays of seven to fifteen days in receiving detailed satellite data often limit effective disaster preparedness and response.
Bangladesh currently relies heavily on foreign satellites for monitoring floods, cyclones, agriculture, forests, rivers, vehicle movement, and aviation activity. Nur Hossain Sharifee, chief scientific officer at SPARRSO, said owning domestic satellites would allow the country to access real time and high quality data more affordably, improving disaster management and reducing economic losses caused by delayed weather and environmental information.
Alongside rocket development, SPARRSO plans to establish a satellite manufacturing industry with a modern AIT laboratory. The facility would handle satellite design, fabrication, integration, testing, and validation across different satellite classes. This would reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, lower procurement costs, and open opportunities for export oriented production of space grade components.
The proposed AIT laboratory would support key sectors including telecommunications, disaster response, agriculture, forestry, the blue economy, and space weather research. It is also expected to play a vital role in training skilled manpower and encouraging research and innovation in universities and scientific institutions.
The third component of the initiative is a space industrial park designed to attract domestic and foreign investment in aerospace research, engineering, and commercial space applications. The park would function as an innovation hub for satellite manufacturers, component suppliers, testing facilities, and technology startups. SPARRSO is reviewing potential locations such as the Mirsarai Economic Zone and Madhupur in Tangail, focusing on areas with strong transport links, utilities, and logistics support.
According to SPARRSO, the space industrial park could generate high skilled employment, promote joint ventures, and support research and development programmes with international partners. Services emerging from the park could include satellite data services, navigation systems, marine tracking, aviation safety tools, energy management solutions, telecommunications support, and sustainable urban planning technologies.
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Experts acknowledge that the project is ambitious and will require significant funding, advanced technology, and foreign collaboration. Subrata Kumar Aditya, professor of electrical and electronic engineering at Dhaka University, said that while the initiative demands major investment, access to advanced technology and strategic partnerships will be equally important. He noted that collaboration with countries such as China could make the project feasible, and confirmed that SPARRSO has already begun discussions with Chinese, Japanese, South Korean, and US based firms.
SPARRSO officials said the idea was first proposed by the organization’s current chairman Md Rashedul Islam and later gained momentum after receiving interest and support from the Ministry of Defence. Development Design Consultants Limited was selected for the feasibility study from seven bidders and brings experience supported by international advisers in space research.
If implemented successfully, the initiative could mark a turning point for Bangladesh’s space ambitions, positioning the country as a regional player in space technology while strengthening national security, disaster preparedness, and economic growth.