Bangladesh and Thales Alenia Space Partner to Strengthen Earth Observation Tech

Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thales Alenia Space to boost the country’s Earth Observation (EO) capabilities. The agreement, finalised on Tuesday, focuses on improving domestic expertise in satellite imagery and data utilisation. Senior officials, including the Italian ambassador, attended the ceremony to mark the partnership. The signing took place in the presence of Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser, and Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro. Both stressed the importance of the collaboration for Bangladesh’s development. Taiyeb called for stronger ties with Thales in areas like institutional training, university partnerships, and cyber security.

Secretary of the ministry Abdun Naser Khan, BSCL Managing Director Dr Muhammad Imadur Rahman, and representatives from Thales Alenia Space were also present. The deal aims to create a National Satellite Image Repository, ensuring unified data access for all government ministries. Taiyeb noted that around 25,000 technology graduates join Bangladesh’s workforce each year. The MoU will support local skill development, knowledge transfer, and pilot projects using EO data for national priorities. Alessandro highlighted the partnership’s role in national planning, disaster response, and environmental monitoring.

The agreement sets out a clear path for Bangladesh to enhance its satellite technology capabilities. It will foster training, data sharing, and practical applications of EO systems. The collaboration is expected to strengthen the country’s ability to manage resources, respond to disasters, and monitor environmental changes.