Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said ensuring the country’s economic development through creating a democratic environment and ensuring people’s right to vote and food is her government’s goals.

‘We want to create a democratic environment in the country and with that we’ll ensure people’s right to vote and food,’ she said, reports the UNB.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a programme marking the successful launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 and inaugurating the landing stations of the satellite named after Sajeeb Wazed at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is now recognised as a developing country and the government is taking programmes for the country’s overall development. ‘We want to take forward the country keeping that dignity intact. Let the pace of advancement roll on.’

She said the people of the country will get various services like education, health and weather forecast from the Bangabandhu Satellite-1. ‘I believe, this satellite will contribute a lot to the overall development of the country.’

Chaired by Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar, the function was addressed, among others, by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, PM’s Adviser on Information and Communication Technology Affairs Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, State Minister Information and Communication Technology Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Post and Telecom Secretary Shyam Sunder Sikder and Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited (BCSCL) chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy said he has a dream of taking broadband internet to every corner of the country. ‘There’re many places (unions and islands) where the linking the fiber optic is not possible…We’ve decided to provide broadband internet in those areas with this Bangabandhu Satellite-1,’ he said.

To do that, Joy mentioned, it will take a very little amount of money and little time. ‘We can do that within the next two weeks.’

 He said it will be possible to provide e-education in remote islands with this satellite. ‘I want the people of the country to see the whole world. We’re building Bangladesh as a modern country, we are no longer a poor country.’

Joy said the people of the country will enjoy direct satellite television service, known as direct to home (DTH), with this Bangabandhu Satellite-1. ‘We’ll not only watch local channels, dramas and songs. I want the rural people to watch the whole world. We won’t be left behind anymore, that’s my dream.’ he said.

He urged the Information Minister, who was present at the programme, to look after the matter. ‘We don’t want to keep our eyes closed, let the TVs and entertainment remain open, let the government remain open enabling people to watch the whole world and learn from it.’

Joy went on saying, ‘With this, there’ll be no digital divide in the country.  It cannot be that only urban people will move forward and rural people will lag behind, I don’t want this; our government will remove that.’

He said television channels will be able to use this satellite in broadcasting their programmes and this will help the country save foreign currency as well.

Joy said he noticed that the country’s youths are showing interest in space and aerospace technologies after launching the satellite.  ‘It never happened in Bangladesh…I hope some students will get higher education on these subjects abroad and come back home and engage themselves in operating the satellite.’

He further said, ‘Above everything, there’s a matter of pride. We’re standing in front of the whole world with our heads high, and we’ve done this during the AL government for several times.’

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also released a commemorative stamp marking the launching of Bangabandhu Satellite and inauguration of the ground stations in Gazipur and Betbunia.

Later, Sheikh Hasina talked to the officials working in Gazipur and Betbunia ground stations through a videoconference.