Palak wants Elon Musk's Starlink internet in Bangladesh

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has urged US aerospace manufacturer Space X to launch its Starlink satellite internet service in Bangladesh. According to reports, the minister's call came during a meeting with a delegation from the US Embassy in Dhaka, led by Joe Yang, Deputy Chief Council of the Department of Commerce.

Starlink is a project by SpaceX designed to provide worldwide internet coverage using a network of satellites in space. Its primary focus is to bring reliable and fast internet access to remote and underserved regions with limited or no connectivity options. Starlink utilises a large constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver high-speed internet services.

During the meeting, Palak reportedly also emphasised the importance of creating investment-friendly guidelines and policies to attract US investments in Bangladesh's thriving technology market. Discussions reportedly revolved around the current status of information protection laws, ICT initiatives, including Over-the-Top (OTT) regulations, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision of establishing a Smart Bangladesh by 2041. The State Minister also shed light on Bangladesh's DEIED, EDGE, and SHIFT projects.

According to news reports, the meeting, attended by senior officials from the US Embassy and the ICT Division, focused on various mutual interests between the two nations.