Aiming for space economy: Bangladesh plans rockets, satellites, and a space industrial park

Highlights:

• Bangladesh launched feasibility study for rockets, satellites, space industrial park
• SPARRSO aims indigenous rocket launches, lower costs, foreign revenue
• Satellite manufacturing and AIT lab to reduce foreign dependence
• Space industrial park to attract investment, startups, high-tech jobs
• Coastal sites considered; feasibility report due by June 2026
• Domestic satellites vital for disaster response, data access, sovereignty

Bangladesh has moved a step closer to entering the global space economy, commissioning a feasibility study on whether the country can build its own rockets, satellites, and even a dedicated space industrial park.

According to the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO), the agency signed an agreement last month with Development Design Consultants Limited to conduct the study at a cost of about Tk1.35 crore.

SPARRSO officials said the consultant will prepare a full feasibility report by June 2026, along with the project's preliminary design. The study will cover three core components: a rocket manufacturing and launch station; a satellite manufacturing industry with an Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) laboratory; and a space industrial park.

Officials added that the initiatives aim to build long-term space capability, strengthen self-reliance, boost foreign revenue, develop skilled talent, and raise Bangladesh's profile in global space science and tap into the emerging trillion-dollar space economy.

Mohammad Shohidul Islam, principal scientific officer at SPARRSO, said the first objective is to begin rocket manufacturing by importing components and assembling them locally. "Once sufficient expertise develops, Bangladesh could build its own rockets," he said.

He noted that neighbouring India earns foreign currency by launching rockets for other countries. "A launch station could offer Bangladesh similar opportunities." 

He added that investment could come from China, Japan, and South Korea, and said discussions have already begun with a Chinese company. A US-based private firm has also agreed to work with SPARRSO on promoting awareness of the space industry.

Subrata Kumar Aditya, professor of electrical and electronic engineering at Dhaka University, said the project is highly ambitious but not impossible.

"It will require significant funding and foreign investment, but investment alone is not enough – we also need advanced technology from abroad," he said. "As far as I know, SPARRSO is planning to collaborate with China. If China or another country supports the initiative, it can be implemented."

Rockets and launch station

SPARRSO officials said a feasibility study is underway for national rocket manufacturing and a launch station. The goal is to develop indigenous launch vehicles capable of placing local and foreign satellites into orbit at lower cost.

According to the contract, seen by TBS, the consultant represented that they have the "required skills, and personnel and technical resources" for the feasibility study.

Confirming this development, SPARRSO's Shohidul Islam said coastal areas in Patuakhali's Kalapara, Chattogram's Anwara, and the Sundarbans are under initial consideration. "The finalisation of the site will follow the feasibility study, which will also determine total costs and guide the government investment proposal," he added.

The facility would boost technological autonomy, strengthen national space security, and support Bangladesh's sovereign claims in orbital slots. Once operational, the station could generate foreign revenue through commercial launches and support scientific missions, officials believe.

Satellite industry, laboratory

SPARRSO plans a satellite manufacturing industry to modernise Bangladesh's satellite capabilities. The facility will handle design, fabrication, integration, testing, and validation of multiple satellite classes.

The initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, lower procurement costs, and create opportunities for export-oriented production of space-grade components. The AIT laboratory will serve sectors including telecommunications, disaster management, agriculture, the blue economy, forestry, and space weather research.

It will also train skilled manpower, foster innovation in universities and research institutions, and position Bangladesh in the trillion-dollar global space market.

Space industrial park

SPARRSO aims to develop a high-tech space industrial park to attract domestic and foreign investment in research, engineering, and commercial space applications. The park will serve as an innovation hub for aerospace manufacturing, component suppliers, testing facilities, and start-ups.

It is expected to create significant employment and foster international collaborations through joint ventures and R&D programmes. The park will offer services in satellite data, navigation, energy management, marine tracking, aviation safety, telecommunications, and sustainable urban planning.

Shohidul Islam said sites with transport links, logistics, gas, and water are being considered, with the Mirsarai Economic Zone and Madhupur in Tangail under review.

Why Bangladesh needs space industry

SPARRSO officials said the global space industry has grown into a trillion-dollar market, with over 11,000 satellites in orbit. Bangladesh holds significant potential, and sustainable development today is closely linked to space technology.

They noted that establishing a space industrial park faces challenges, mainly skilled manpower, funding, and foreign investment, but said the project is achievable. The park could attract investors to produce satellites and components, as the country already has a pool of university graduates.

Experts said satellites are essential for modern communication, information gathering, research, and national security. Orbiting Earth, they collect signals, images, and data for diverse applications, including telecommunications, weather forecasting, agricultural monitoring, navigation, scientific research, and national security. 

Bangladesh Satellite-1, launched on 11 May 2018, is currently used for television broadcasting.

Nur Hossain Sharifee, chief scientific officer at SPARRSO, said Bangladesh currently relies on global satellites to monitor agriculture, disasters, floods, vehicle and aircraft movements, and changes in forests, rivers, and land. 

"Free satellite data is available, but the limited budget restricts access to high-quality, real-time information. Low-cost data cannot support timely disaster preparedness, as detailed data can take seven to 15 days to obtain. This makes domestic satellites essential for national and commercial use," he said.

Sharifee added that a single set of high-resolution data costs around Tk40 crore. The lack of real-time weather data has often caused significant losses. Owning domestic satellites would allow Bangladesh to access such data more affordably and efficiently.

A SPARRSO official added that launching a satellite from Europe costs about Tk2,000 crore, whereas building and launching one domestically could cost less than half. Rockets are needed to place satellites into orbit, and initially, components will be imported and assembled locally to produce launch vehicles.

Currently, the US, Russia, France, Japan, China, UK, India, Israel, Iran, Canada, Italy, South Korea, and the European Union have both rocket and satellite manufacturing capability.

Officials said the initiative was first proposed by the current SPARRSO chairman, Md Rashedul Islam, and was taken forward after Md Ashraf Uddin, secretary of the defence ministry, expressed interest and support.

They said the feasibility work was awarded to Development Design Consultants Limited, a firm with experienced international advisers in space research. The company was selected from seven bidders, they added.