Dhaka: Bangladesh has officially become the 54th country to sign the Artemis Accords, reinforcing its commitment to peaceful and responsible space exploration. The signing ceremony was held in Dhaka, where Secretary of Defense Ashraf Uddin signed the accords on behalf of the government.
Tracey Jacobson, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Dhaka, was present at the event, and NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro shared remarks via a pre-recorded video message.
“Bangladesh affirms its role in shaping the future of space exploration. This is about ensuring that our journey to the Moon – and beyond – is peaceful, sustainable, and transparent,” said Janet Petro.
A New Chapter in Bangladesh’s Space Ambitions
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus emphasized that signing the accords will enhance Bangladesh’s global engagement in space research and international cooperation:
“By signing the accords, Bangladesh builds upon an important foundation for the open, responsible, and peaceful exploration of space.”
This move aligns Bangladesh with over 50 other countries, all of whom are committed to the guidelines of the Artemis Accords, which were launched in 2020 by NASA, the US Department of State, and seven other founding nations.
What Are the Artemis Accords?
The Artemis Accords are a set of principles grounded in international law, specifically:
- The Outer Space Treaty (1967)
- The Registration Convention (1976)
- The Rescue and Return Agreement
These accords promote:
- Peaceful use of space
- Transparency in mission activities
- Interoperability among spacefaring nations
- Responsible resource extraction
- Deconfliction of space operations
- Preservation of space heritage sites (e.g., Apollo landing sites)
- Sharing scientific data with the global community
Bangladesh’s Growing Space Footprint
Bangladesh already operates its first communications satellite, Bangabandhu-1, launched in 2018, and continues to invest in telecommunication, weather forecasting, and remote sensing technologies. Signing the Artemis Accords is a significant step toward the nation’s long-term goal of becoming an active participant in global space research and possibly in future lunar missions.
A Global Momentum
| Year | Number of Artemis Signatories |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 8 (Founding Nations) |
| 2023 | 30+ |
| 2025 | 54 |
The United States views the expansion of the Artemis Accords as a key diplomatic and scientific achievement, bringing together nations to ensure the safety, sustainability, and cooperation of space exploration in the 21st century.
“We look forward to working together, to learning from one another, and to seeing how Bangladesh’s incredible talent and vision contribute to humanity’s next great chapter in space,” added Petro.