Bangladesh Satellite-1 Generates £11.2m Net Profit Over Five Years

The commercial utilisation of the country’s first orbit geostationary communication satellite, Bangladesh Satellite-1, has yielded a total net profit of 163.97 crore Bangladeshi Taka (approximately £11.2 million) over the last five financial years. Total revenue generated during this five-year period stood at 764.10 crore Taka.

Fakir Mahbub Anam, the Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, disclosed the financial data during a parliamentary question-and-answer session on Wednesday. The statistics were provided in a written response to a query tabled by Member of Parliament Md Abul Hasnat (Hasnat Abdullah), representing the Cumilla-4 constituency.

Financial Performance Breakdown

The data presented by the Minister showcased a steady growth in revenue, though the introduction of asset depreciation methods created a temporary paper loss in the middle of the five-year cycle. The table below details the annual revenue and net profit or loss generated by Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) from the financial year 2020-21 to 2024-25:

In his analysis of the 2022-23 fiscal deficit, the Minister explained that the satellite’s physical assets were officially transferred to BSCL on 30 June 2022. The subsequent inclusion of book depreciation values from that year onwards created a technical, on-paper loss for that specific period. However, the enterprise successfully returned to profitability in the consecutive financial cycles.

Commercial Footprint and Institutional Nomenclature

The satellite has become a cornerstone of the national telecommunications landscape. It currently services all public and private television channels in the country, alongside powering Direct-to-Home (DTH) television facilities, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) services, and emergency disaster-period telecommunications. The state has also successfully capitalised on international markets by selling satellite bandwidth abroad.

A notable shift in official terminology was visible during the parliamentary session. Whilst the MP’s written question—originally scheduled for 14 June before being incorporated into the 24 June order paper—referred to the spacecraft by its original name, “Bangabandhu Satellite-1”, the Minister’s reply strictly used “Bangladesh Satellite-1”. This aligns with a series of renames enacted under the interim administration, which systematically removed the names of political figures from state infrastructure and official gazettes.

Addressing the ‘White Elephant’ Concerns over Satellite-2

Mr Hasnat’s parliamentary inquiry raised sharp concerns regarding the financial viability of a second space mission. He questioned whether the proposed Bangladesh Satellite-2 project would morph into a “white elephant”—a costly public venture yielding little practical return.

Defending the strategic vision, Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam clarified that the second spacecraft is designed with entirely different operational objectives. Unlike its predecessor, Satellite-2 will function as an Earth Observation Satellite. The infrastructure is slated to provide critical telemetry for agricultural monitoring, fisheries management, natural disaster mitigation, maritime vessel tracking, and the broader blue economy, alongside bolstering national maritime security.

To prevent the project from becoming a fiscal burden, the current administration has mandated a rigorous feasibility study to verify its economic justification and long-term viability. The Minister added that global aerospace manufacturers have expressed keen interest in partnering with Dhaka. Three reputable international satellite manufacturing firms have already submitted formal proposals, which are currently being analysed by technical committees. A final decision on the launch timeline will depend entirely on the outcome of the ongoing feasibility assessments.