In a significant step in response to the changing polity of the country, the exercise of assigning a new nomenclature, Bangladesh Satellite-1 (BS-1), has been initiated for the country’s first satellite, the Bangabandhu Satellite-1. This satellite was previously launched by Bangladesh on May 11, 2018. The decision has been made after the huge student movement, referred to as the July Revolution, led to the fall of the fascist regime of the Awami League and the removal of the then PM, Sheikh Hasina. Alongside renaming the satellite, BSCL has also been busy stripping other names of institutions previously granted with Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The action meets with a larger governmental order for ending the cult of personality established under the toppled regime.
Omar Haider, BSCL communications head, has said, “The process of re-naming has been undertaken after a decision of the Adviser’s Council of the caretaker interim government and shall be made legally binding after notification from the competent authorities after being finalized.” Sources within BSCL confirmed on Monday that officially, a request for naming the satellite has been made with Posts and Telecommunications Division. The move has been made after a recent order of the caretaker Advisories’ Council, where ministries and country ministries were ordered not to include names of individuals associated with the country’s dictatorial regime on projects and country institutions.
The renaming of the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 into Bangladesh Satellite-1 has been greeted with love because this has been interpreted as a symbolic step towards restoration of national identity, where national achievements are indicative of people’s collective soul, and not for politically-oriented purposes. As the country enters this new political environment, there are expected reforms with the caretaker regime proceeding with the removal of remains of the autarchy and restoration of democratic governance.
Source: The Business Standard
