Bangladesh aims to secure Starlink deal in three months, says Yunus

DHAKA: Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus said on Tuesday a commercial deal with Elon Musk's SpaceX-owned satellite internet network Starlink is set to be signed within three months to provide internet services across the South Asian country. 

Yunus, who has led Bangladesh since prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted last year, has said the deal would provide a reliable internet service that could not be disrupted by an future political upheaval. 

Yunus, a Nobel laureate, took charge of the interim government in August after Hasina was forced to flee to neighbouring India following weeks of violent protests.

"If Starlink is launched, no government will have the ability to shut down internet access or lock citizens out of the digital world," said Yunus in a televised speech to the nation ahead of Independence Day.

As protests spread nationwide in July last year, authorities suspended internet and text messaging services. The interim government says Starlink's satellite-based technology would reduce the potential for government-imposed disruptions.

Yunus said inflation was the government's biggest challenge. Inflation had fallen to 9.32% in February, the lowest level in 22 months, he said, and he hoped it would drop below 8% by June.

He reiterated that a national election will be held between December this year and June 2026.

“Our goal is to ensure that the upcoming election is the most free, fair, and acceptable in the history of Bangladesh," Yunus said.