Bangladesh has officially signed the Artemis Accords with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), becoming the 54th country to join the global initiative focused on the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.
The agreement was signed on 8 April at the Bangladesh Investment Summit held at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka. Defence Secretary Md Ashraf Uddin signed the accords in the presence of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and US Embassy in Dhaka Chargé d’Affaires Tracey Ann Jacobson. 
The Artemis Accords, established by NASA in 2020, outline a set of non-binding principles that promote safe, sustainable, and transparent civil space activities in line with international space treaties. By signing, Bangladesh signals its strong commitment to non-military space exploration and responsible global cooperation in space science.
“This is a strong and significant step towards peaceful, responsible, and transparent space exploration,” said NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro in a video message during the signing ceremony.
Officials highlighted that Bangladesh’s inclusion in the Artemis Accords will open doors to technological advancement, economic cooperation, and scientific collaboration. It marks the beginning of closer cooperation between Bangladesh’s space agency SPARRSO and NASA.
Defence Secretary Ashraf Uddin stated that the partnership will help enhance Bangladesh’s capability in space technology, including satellite systems and earth observation tools—critical for disaster management in a climate-vulnerable nation.
“This collaboration can accelerate the development of our space research institutions and strengthen our national satellite programmes,” he added.
Students and researchers in Bangladesh are also expected to benefit from NASA-led training programmes, scholarships, and exchange opportunities. The agreement creates a path for universities and scientists to collaborate with leading global institutions on space research and innovation.
BIDA Chief Ashik described the agreement as a new chapter in Bangladesh-US space collaboration, one that could boost Bangladesh’s scientific capacity and innovation ecosystem.
With this signing, Bangladesh joins a distinguished list of countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Japan, South Korea, UAE, and others—that have committed to a peaceful and cooperative future in space exploration.
