Bangladesh enters the ‘Artemis Accords’ in collaboration with NASA

Bangladesh Joins NASA's Artemis Accords as 54th Signatory

Strengthening International Space Cooperation

Bangladesh has formally joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 54th nation to sign the non-binding agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), aimed at peaceful and transparent civil space exploration. The Artemis Accords, introduced in October 2020, provide a framework based on the Outer Space Treaty and other international instruments to guide responsible space activities, ensure safety, promote sustainability, and protect space heritage.

Signing Ceremony Held in Dhaka

The signing took place at a city hotel in Dhaka in the presence of key dignitaries including Defence Secretary Md Ashraf Uddin, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, and Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Dhaka, Tracey Ann Jacobson. The Chief of Protocol and Director General of the North America Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AFM Zahid-Ul-Islam, and Chairman of the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO), Md. Rashedul Islam, also attended the event.

Enhancing Space Research and Development

Defence Secretary Md Ashraf Uddin highlighted that joining the Artemis Accords is a strategic move that will facilitate access to cutting-edge space technologies, satellite systems, and international scientific collaboration. He emphasized that Bangladesh has been committed to peaceful space utilization since the establishment of SPARRSO in 1980 and will now benefit from global cooperation to enhance its space mission capabilities. This agreement opens new avenues for collaboration between SPARRSO and NASA, potentially accelerating Bangladesh’s space research and technological development.

Opportunities in Education and Disaster Management

The accords also pave the way for capacity building in Bangladesh’s space sector, especially in the development of earth observation and climate monitoring satellites—key tools for disaster management in a country prone to natural calamities. Furthermore, the agreement will offer Bangladeshi universities, scientists, and students opportunities to engage in global space research programs, training, scholarships, and academic exchanges facilitated by NASA and other international partners.

A Step Towards National Development Goals

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun described the signing as the beginning of a new chapter in Bangladesh-US space collaboration, noting its importance in advancing national scientific and developmental goals. By aligning with the Artemis Accords, Bangladesh reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful, transparent, and sustainable use of outer space, contributing to both domestic progress and the global space community.