State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak met with French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy on June 24 at the Secretariat. The meeting underscored the enduring partnership between Bangladesh and France, particularly in satellite technology and cybersecurity.
Palak shared insights from the meeting on social media, expressing his enthusiasm: “A fascinating and insightful meeting took place earlier this morning with Her Excellency Marie Masdupuy, the Hon’ble Ambassador of France to Bangladesh.”
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Highlighting France's longstanding support in satellite technology, the state minister noted, “France has played a pivotal role since the inauguration of the first satellite ground station of Bangladesh in Betbunia on June 14, 1975, by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
This partnership continued with the successful launch of Bangladesh’s first communications satellite, Bangabandhu Satellite-1, on May 12, 2018, he noted.
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A significant outcome of the meeting was the announcement that Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) has signed a Letter of Intent with Airbus. This agreement paves the way for the development of ‘Bangabandhu Satellite-2,’ two optical satellites, one SAR satellite, and further advancements in Bangladesh’s aerospace technology.
In addition to satellite technology, France has committed to collaborate with Bangladesh in several critical areas. These include cybersecurity, start-up exchange, aerospace technology, human resources development, capacity building, and knowledge transfer. This multifaceted cooperation aims to enhance Bangladesh's capabilities in these high-tech fields.
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The French Embassy in Dhaka also shared details of the meeting on social media, highlighting the breadth of discussions. “H.E Marie Masdupuy met yesterday with Hon'ble Minister of State for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology @zapalak after his very successful recent visit to France. It was an occasion to discuss a wide range of areas including Space, AI, and Cybersecurity,” the embassy stated.