France keen to support Bangabandhu Satellite project

France has shown its interest in assisting Bangladesh for launching Bangabandhu Satellite in the orbit.
The offer came when French Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Sophie Aubert met Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his Secretariat office on Sunday, a news agency report said.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Muhith said France is now interested in the launching of Bangladesh’s maiden satellite since they are one of the oldest launchers of satellites.
The minister said he informed the French envoy that it would be a fair competition since the government has already advertised inviting tender bids.
He said the field of satellite launching is now much wider at the moment as China has appeared to be a serious competitor for their low cost offer.
Besides, Muhith said, the Chinese government has informed that they would also finance the project if they get the tender for which they have an advantage.
During the meeting, the French envoy has expressed her intention to boost the economic relations of the two countries through participating in various development programmes during her tenure in the country since France is Bangladesh’s good development partner.
Earlier on September 16 last year, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the much-awaited 'Bangabandhu Satellite Launching' project with an outlay of around Tk3 billion, aiming to launch the country's first satellite in the orbit.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) under the Post and Telecommunications Ministry will implement the project by June 2017.