Elon Musk’s Satellite Symphony for Bangladesh
In the wake of a student-led revolution, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, now leading Bangladesh’s caretaker government, has extended an invite to tech titan Elon Musk. The request? To bring the celestial symphony of Starlink, his satellite internet service, to the South Asian nation.
Yunus’s plea resonates with Bangladesh’s fragile interim government, desperate for diplomatic support from the United States. The timing is no coincidence, coinciding with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Washington at President Trump’s behest.
Starlink, with its constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, promises to bridge the digital divide, empowering “Bangladesh’s enterprising youth, rural women, and remote communities,” as Yunus’s office declared. Musk responded with eager anticipation, hinting at a future sojourn to the country.
The meeting between Musk and Yunus occurred the same day as Musk’s encounter with Modi. Tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated since Yunus took office, eclipsing the once-close ties forged by the ousted former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.
Despite Bangladesh’s request for Hasina’s extradition to face charges of protester deaths, she remains in exile in New Delhi. India’s stance on this issue remains a source of contention, casting a shadow over the budding relationship between Bangladesh and the United States, which Musk’s Starlink initiative may seek to illuminate.
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