How Bhanga space observatory project got everything wrong

Infograph: TBS

Even an astronomical project to build a space observatory, which requires strict scientific and mathematical precision, could not escape the common pitfalls that often plague development projects in Bangladesh.

From flawed location selection to poor planning and weak feasibility study – the project initiated by the former Awami League government in Faridpur's Bhanga upazila got everything wrong.

Now, after three years and over Tk6.5 crore in expenditures, the project faces cancellation.

The ambitious Tk213 crore Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Space Observatory project in Bhangardia village of Bhanga was approved in 2021 considering a unique geographical location of the site.

It was said that the uniqueness lies in the site's position at the rare intersection of the Tropic of Cancer – an imaginary line encircling the Earth where the Sun shines directly overhead – and the 90-degree east longitude.

Officials from the National Museum of Science and Technology, the implementing agency, now say the intersection point in Bhanga naturally shifts 15 metres southward each year, making the location less significant. Between 2020 and 2024, this intersection point has moved 60 metres south.

According to the officials, the intersection is now located near the southern edge of the land acquired for the project. Over time, it will shift even further away from the project site.

Besides, the presence of artificial lights and high levels of humidity at the project site will limit the effectiveness of the telescope in the observation tower, they say.

"The project is no longer necessary. To derive any meaningful benefit from the project, significantly more funds would be required," Munira Sultana, director general of the National Museum of Science and Technology, told TBS.

Invention of an irrelevant uniqueness

The Equator, the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn – three imaginary lines – encircle the earth from east to west. On the other hand, four longitude lines – 0 degree, 90-degree east, 180-degree east-west and 90-degree west – surround the planet from north to south.

The three lines that encircle the earth from east-west intersect the four longitudinal lines at 12 points, of which 10 cover the oceans. Only two points are on land.

One of these two intersection points straddles the Sahara Desert, and the other in Faridpur's Bhanga. Of the 12 intersection points, this is the only one easily accessible to travelers.

Eminent writer Professor Muhammed Zafar Iqbal brought the fact to public attention. He proposed the set-up of a "Bangabandhu Space Observatory" during a meeting of the celebration committee for Bangabandhu's birth centenary in 2019.

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina accepted the proposal and directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to prepare the project.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project in 2021 and it was scheduled for completion by June 2024.

Experts argue that the intersection of the Tropic of Cancer and the 90° East longitude holds no significance for building a national space observatory.

According to them, the most critical factors for selecting such a site are the number of clear-sky nights, minimal light pollution, and low levels of relative humidity.

Farseem Mannan Mohammedy, a professor at Buet, explained that longitude lines are imaginary constructs created for human convenience, such as maintaining time standards and other practical purposes. They have no direct connection to celestial observations or the optical and radio wave research conducted in observatories.

He further noted that the Earth's axial precession causes its obliquity (axial tilt) to change over time. As a result, the intersection point shifts approximately 47 seconds south per century, which would translate to a displacement of 1.5 kilometres in 100 years.

Decision to cancel the project

The decision to cancel the project was made during a steering committee meeting chaired by Md Mokabbir Hossain, secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, on 17 November.

At the meeting, the officials said the observation tower dome of the space observation centre, planned under the project, is designed to be installed around 172 feet above the ground. This height makes it challenging to keep the tower completely stable.

Strengthening the foundation to ensure stability would significantly increase project costs, which would neither be technically nor financially feasible, they mentioned.

Officials say the project proposal was prepared and approved in haste, leading to significant flaws in the feasibility study.

According to the project proposal, a five-story circular (annular) building was to be constructed on 10 acres of land. At its center, a main observatory tower, with a diameter of one meter, was designed to rise to a height of 100 metres from separate ground installations.

The tower was intended to feature a horizontally rotating platform with a 10-metre diameter, suitable for reflector telescopes. The ground floor and the circular platform of the observatory tower were envisioned to function as a secondary observatory.

The 100-metre height of the tower was specifically chosen to commemorate the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The five-story annular building was to include office spaces, classrooms, laboratories, and accommodations. The entire project was to be funded by the government.

Weak feasibility studies doom dev projects

Experts say although there is a provision to conduct feasibility studies before taking up projects, in our country, feasibility studies are often done after the decision to implement the project has already been made.

Zahid Hussain, former lead economist at the World Bank's Dhaka office, said that development projects have been approved hastily in recent years, which he refers to as "intellectual corruption".

"The feasibility studies tend to favour the project, with no negative aspects highlighted."

He added that for ongoing projects in the annual development programme, it is essential to temporarily halt them and review whether their designs are appropriate.

"Even a good project can fail if it is poorly designed. While some money may already have been spent, these projects need to be stopped now to prevent further waste in the future," he said.

He said that recently many people are claiming that reducing the development budget will lead to lower growth. "This is a hypothetical argument. Does implementing bad projects increase growth?"