- Agreement aims to provide stable internet despite potential political turmoil, says Yunus.
- Yunus announces elections to be held from December this year to June 2026.
- Objective is to ensure a free and fair election in the nation’s history, states interim leader.
DHAKA: Bangladesh’s interim leader announced on Tuesday that a commercial agreement with Elon Musk’s SpaceX-operated satellite internet service, Starlink, is anticipated to be finalized within the next three months to deliver internet access across the country.
Muhammad Yunus, who has been at the helm of Bangladesh’s government since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted last year, indicated that the agreement would guarantee a dependable internet service that would remain unaffected by any future political unrest.
Yunus, a Nobel Prize laureate, took control of the interim government in August after Hasina fled to India following weeks of tumultuous protests.
“Once Starlink is operational, no government will have the power to cut off internet access or isolate citizens from the digital realm,” Yunus stated in a televised address to the public ahead of Independence Day.
Last July, as protests escalated nationwide, officials suspended internet and text messaging services. The interim government claims that Starlink’s satellite-based system would mitigate the risk of government-induced disruptions.
He identified inflation as the most significant challenge facing the government. Yunus noted that inflation dropped to 9.32% in February, its lowest level in 22 months, and expressed optimism that it would dip below 8% by June.
He confirmed that national elections are scheduled to take place between December of this year and June 2026.
“Our aim is to ensure that the upcoming election is the most free, fair, and accepted in Bangladesh’s history,” Yunus declared.
