Bangladesh achieves a landmark space milestone with its first homegrown rocket launch, as DhumketuX eyes global aerospace leadership amid legal, structural needs.
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| As Bangladesh celebrates its first indigenous rocket launch, experts stress the need for space law, sponsorship, and dedicated infrastructure to sustain momentum. Image: DhumketuX |
Dhaka, Bangladesh — May 8, 2025:
In a historic leap for Bangladesh’s scientific and technological advancement, local space-tech startup DhumketuX successfully launched the country’s first self-made rocket on February 7, 2023, signaling a bold new chapter in national innovation. The breakthrough comes as the country celebrates 50 years of independence, with its sights now firmly set on the stars.
Led by visionary engineer Nahian Al Rahman Oli, the DhumketuX team developed and launched the prototype “Dhumketu Putimach 01,” a small-scale rocket capable of ascending one kilometer above ground. This test flight marks the first step in a larger roadmap that includes future rockets—such as “Dhumketu 0.6,” “Dhumketu 0.7,” and “Dhumketu 0.9+ (Bayanno 52)”—which are designed to reach altitudes up to 100 kilometers, enabling high-altitude meteorological research and near-space exploration.
DhumketuX is working on creating both partially and fully reusable launch vehicles that are not only cost-efficient and safe but can also serve civil, commercial, and defense sectors. Its goal is to build a sustainable aerospace ecosystem within Bangladesh and place the country among emerging leaders in global space innovation.
However, this ambitious vision is not without challenges. Experts and the DhumketuX team alike have raised concerns over the absence of a comprehensive legal framework to regulate space activity in Bangladesh. Without a national space policy or regulatory authority, the development and launch of aerospace technologies remain in a legal gray zone.
Moreover, the initiative currently lacks consistent government sponsorship and financial backing, limiting its ability to scale and accelerate development. The absence of essential infrastructure—including a dedicated ground control station and a permanent launch pad—further constrains the project’s full potential. DhumketuX has had to rely on limited resources, personal investment, and grassroots-level innovation to achieve its initial success.
Despite these hurdles, the team remains optimistic. Alongside its rocketry ambitions, DhumketuX is also developing drones, satellites, and aircraft, with a long-term vision of making Bangladesh a hub for aerospace research and development. Its recent victory in the First Rocketry Innovation Challenge with the concept of Dhumketu 0.9+ has bolstered its credibility and sparked increased interest among youth and tech communities.
The successful rocket launch is not just a technological feat—it’s a call to action. To truly harness the promise of this progress, Bangladesh must now invest in legal reform, national-level funding, and critical space infrastructure. Only then can this historic launch become the foundation for a sustainable and internationally recognized space program.