Bangladesh's interest, crisis and potential in space and satellite research

A revolution took place silently in the history of space exploration with the advancement of remote sensing technology on July 23, 1972. On this day, the United States launched the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1, renamed Landsat-1 in 1975).

Earlier, Russia's Sputnik-1 established the first human control on space while Vostok-1 and Vostok-5 brought the thrill of space travel to humans. US explorers have extended man's gaze to neighboring planets and satellites in the universe. Man set foot on the moon riding Apollo 11 spacecraft. But ERTS-1 offers the opportunity to reveal the deep mysteries hidden in the folds of the earth's surface beyond the horizon of the human eye.

The newly independent Bangladesh in 1972 did not lag behind from that opportunity. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not let Bangladesh stay backwards. Bangabandhu took over the ERTS program in Bangladesh and established the Space and Atmospheric Research Center (SARC) soon after the United States launched ERTS-1. This ERTS program and the evolution of SARC is today's Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARSO). Not only that, the country's first satellite station was established in Betbunia during the Bangabandhu regime. Bangabandhu inaugurated this geo-satellite center on June 14, 1975. As a result, Bangabandhu laid the foundation for the connection with space and space science research in Bangladesh.

However, the anti-independence forces destroyed the great potential of the newly independent Bangladesh by assassinating Bangabandhu and his family members the same year. After August 15, 1975, the governments backed by the anti-liberation forces that ruled the country for the next 21 years did not give any importance to space research and even the inclusion of Bangladesh in the world satellite club. Just forget about the issue of space research, in 1993 Bangladesh was even not included in the Sea-Me-We-3 submarine cable consortium due to the ignorance of officials in the then BNP government. Once the opportunity was missed, it took more than 12 years to connect to the Sea-Me-We-4 submarine cable.

When the Awami League government was formed under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina in 1996, a new movement towards telecommunications and information technology began. The main goal of the government at that time was to establish Bangladesh at par with the world in the transformation of rapidly developing mobile telecommunication services, developing mobile telecommunication network up to the grass root level of the country and at the same time a plan was also adopted to advance satellite technology.
According to an article published by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Mostafa Jabbar, on February 18, 2019, in 'Bhorer Kagoj' newspaper, the then government had planned its own satellite power project in 1997. But the project was canceled after the BNP-Jamaat government came to the power in 2001.

Then in 2009, after the formation of the grand alliance government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the much-awaited Bangabandhu Satellite-1 construction project was taken. And finally, the chapter of Bangladesh's great pride was written on May 12, 2018. Joy Bangla sound echoed in the space as Bangabandhu-1 satellite was successfully launched. We know that the process of construction of Bangabandhu Satellite-2 has already started. So, we can expect that Bangladesh will be able to build more satellites of multiple categories in the near future. But apart from this, a big topic of discussion remains about the country's overall space research as there are vast areas of space research in the world beyond the matter of building satellites, launching it and getting benefits according to its category. Vast advances in space exploration and remote sensing have made it possible to peer deep into the oceans and underground, not just the surface. Establishing the invisible control of humankind over all the resources of the world has become possible.

As space science has informed about the position of the earth in the universe, the new strategies have been invented to locate the position of the earth and take control over the possible danger. For many, finding life on Mars or landing on the moon may seem like mere fantasy. But this fantasy is not meaningless. Rather, the strong interest in looking at other planets in the space has been created only when all the unknowns of the world have been revealed within the range of their vision by keeping their eyes on distant planets. It has also been possible to determine the appropriate approach regarding the effective use of the earth's resources.

If not for the excellence in space research, people would have thought about this huge advancement of information technology in today's world, many years later. The country that has more control over space on Earth is considered more powerful regardless of money, resources, technology and military power. This is why developed countries allocate most of their money on space research comparing to the other sectors. According to the latest report from Fortune magazine, the United States has increased its spending on space research to 22.8 billion US dollars in 2020. Russia's current spending on space research is $4.2 billion, China's $5.8 billion. Even our neighbour India last year (in 2022) increased its spending from 1.5 billion USD to 1.8 billion USD.

Our neighbouring friend India is in a leading position in space research in South Asia. The Indian subcontinent started working on space science during the British colonial period. Shishir Kumar Mitra was a famous space scientist in India at that time. The Bangali scientist conducted a series of experiments using sound guide technology in the ionosphere through the terrestrial radio system from Kolkata. Later, CV Raman, Meghnad Saha, Vikram Sarabhai, Homi Bhava took India's space research forward in an organized manner. These four space scientists achieved success in research, especially in cosmic radiation and high atmosphere monitoring. From that continuity, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was formed in India in 1962.The largest space agency in the subcontinent, the Indian Space Research Organisation, abbreviated as 'ISRO', was established in 1969. In 1975, India's new glorious chapter began with the conquest of space. On April 19 of that year, India's first satellite 'Aryabhatta' was launched into space.

India has its dedicated Directorate of Space Research and Space Research Institute to produce researchers. There is also a Space Commission consisting of experts for new plans in space exploration. Six universities including Punjab University have specialized departments in space science. India is also far ahead of others in the region in practical deployments in space and remote sensing. At present, the number of satellites launched by India in space is 67. But we have not yet been able to take a definite plan for space research in an organized manner. So far there is no independent institute in Bangladesh for producing researchers for this purpose. No university has a specialized department on space science. Rather space science has included as a course in physics department at universities. This course can only produce technicians to operate geosatellite stations. But making a space scientist is not possible. It is not even possible to make a satellite architect.
​
Our only Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARSO) has some limitations. This organization is mainly doing remote sensing successfully. But structurally, this institution does not have the opportunity to show much success in space research. The institution is not led by researchers, but by traditional bureaucratic leadership, almost as a dysfunctional institution.

However, a group of young people from Hazrat Shahjalal University of Science and Technology have created a Lunar View App, which has not only been recognized by NASA, but has also has been enlisted for awards. If the field of space research can be developed in the country in the true sense, then our youth may one day be able to set foot on the moon in their own spacecraft. One can say it is an illusion. But this dream is not unrealistic.

A Bangali, Jagadish Chandra Bose, was the first to inform the world that there is ether in the air, like a garland, playing with invisible waves. At the same time, it is possible to make one's voice heard around the world using fast magnetic technology. No matter how many times Marconi's name is written in Nobel history for the invention of the wireless, Jagadish Chandra Bose's name will always be above Marconi's as an inventor. Jagdish Chandra Bose is the one who informed the world that trees also have lives, they have also feelings of happiness and sadness.

There is a lot of space research potential in Bangladesh. Our youth have that capability. They have shown examples of the greatness of excellence of their thoughts within the limited capacity botb in the country and the abroad, in various fields. Bangladeshi youths are also working in NASA. Why is space science research field not being prepared in the country despite the vast potential?

Our problem is that space research has not received much attention at the national level so far as its practical value, benefit of return or economic rate of return cannot be thought of quickly or calculated in simple numbers. For example, have we ever thought that ensuring the effective use of marine resources depends heavily on remote sensing research and management? Rather, we have kept our thoughts, plans and projects in the horizontal perspective of searching for pebbles by ships in the sea. We are yet to think about the technology to look far into the deep ocean at a wide range.
​If we want to imagine ourselves in the level of the developed world one day, then we must take space research seriously.

We need to build the capacity to create new categories of satellites that can contribute to space exploration, not only geo stationary or communication satellites out of a commercial point of view.

For this, the process of making technicians with training needs to be broadened a bit. The project of creating space scientists should be taken up by creating independent institutes or by starting independent and specialized space science departments at the university level. May be after another hundred years, a Bangladeshi space explorer will go to the moon. We may not be there today. No harm at all. Our legacies will remain and for them can we not now sow the seeds of prosperous future? Is it too difficult to sow the seeds of that immense potential?

Rased Mehedi
Journalist, Information Technology Analyst