Bangladesh joins Nasa's non-military space exploration initiative

Highlights:

• Bangladesh 54th country to sign the accords
• Benefits include technology transfer, economic cooperation, scientific collaboration
• Bangladeshis would get opportunities to collaborate with top global institutions on space research, innovation
• Students could get benefit from Nasa training programmes, scholarships, exchange programmes

Bangladesh today (8 April) signed the Artemis Accords with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) of the United States, focusing on non-military space exploration.

In the presence of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and US Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires Tracey Ann Jacobson, Bangladesh Defence Secretary Md Ashraf Uddin inked the accords.

The signing ceremony took place on the second day of the four-day Bangladesh Investment Summit at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka.

"With the signing ceremony today, Bangladesh makes a strong and significant commitment to the peaceful, responsible, and transparent exploration of space," Nasa acting administrator Janet Petro said in a video message.

Nasa, in coordination with the US Department of State and seven other initial signatory nations, established the Artemis Accords in 2020.

Bangladesh became the 54th country to sign the accords.

With many countries and private companies conducting missions and operations around the Moon, the Artemis Accords provide a common set of principles to enhance the governance of civil exploration and use of outer space, according to Nasa.

With this move, Bangladesh has aligned itself with global efforts to advance scientific discovery, protect space heritage, and responsibly utilise space resources, contributing to Bangladesh's national development goals, reports BSS.

In his speech, Bida chief Ashik said the signing of the accords has begun a new chapter in space research collaboration between Bangladesh and the US.

Through this, he said, Bangladesh will be able to accelerate its space research activities.

Defence Secretary Ashraf said the purpose of the accords is to provide a practical set of non-binding principles, guidelines, and best practices grounded in the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies (Outer Space Treaty), and other existing instruments such as the Registration Convention and the Agreement on the Rescue and Return of Astronauts, to ensure safe, transparent, and sustainable civil space exploration.

"With a view to promoting space science and technology, Bangladesh established SPARRSO in 1980. Since then, Bangladesh has followed international rules and norms on the peaceful use of space," he added.

In signing the Artemis Accords, he said, countries have committed to follow these principles, the implementation of which is designed to promote safe, sustainable, and transparent activities in space.

As of 21 January 2025, 53 countries have signed the accords, including the US, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, India, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and several European and Latin American countries.

By signing the accords, Bangladesh will become part of a prestigious international space alliance, Ashraf said.

He added that Bangladesh will greatly benefit in terms of technology transfer, economic cooperation, and scientific collaboration through the accords.

It will open the door to cooperation and collaboration between SPARRSO and Nasa, and will enhance the current capacity of SPARRSO to accelerate space missions, he added.

Ashraf said that if Bangladesh collaborates with Nasa and other space agencies, it will gain access to cutting-edge space technology, satellite systems, and scientific research.

This could also help to enhance Bangladesh's own satellite programme and future space initiatives, he added.

He said Bangladesh can accelerate the development of its space research institutions, such as SPARRSO.

It could receive technical assistance to develop its own Earth observation and climate monitoring satellites, which are crucial for managing disasters such as floods and cyclones, he added.

He said Bangladeshi universities and scientists would get opportunities to collaborate with top global institutions on space research and innovation.

Students could benefit from Nasa training programmes, scholarships, and exchange programmes, he added.

Among others, Chief of Protocol and Director-General of the North America Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs AFM Zahid-Ul-Islam and Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO) Nasa Md Rashedul Islam were present at the occasion.