Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology (ICT) Minister Mustafa Jabbar has said the launch of Bangabandhu-1, Bangladesh’s first satellite, is likely to be deferred again. He made the statement while talking to reporters after a roundtable discussion titled “Bangabandhu Satellite: Possibility in Space”, on Wednesday. "The authorities concerned of US company SpaceX has fixed May 7 as the possible date for the launching," the minister said. The program was organised by Telecom Reporters' Network, Bangladesh (TRNB) at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) office. Speaking at the roundtable, BTRC Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood said it has been rescheduled as the weather will not be favorable for the launching on May 4. He also asked all the local television channels to turn their satellite onto Bangabandhu-1, after its launch. The launching schedule of Bangladesh's lone satellite had earlier been deferred several times. The Bangabandhu Satellite with a capacity of 1,600 megahertz will have 40 transponders and the physical equipment of the space capsule that measures the capacity. Saiful Islam, additional secretary to Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology (ICT) Ministry and also the managing director of Bangabandhu Satellite Communications Ltd., said a total of 18 people have been recruited for controlling the project and they have started working at the ground station. Besides, a marketing team was recruited to promote the sales of transponders. He added that two countries, Indonesia and Philippines, have showed their interest in using the satellite. On October 21, 2015, the Cabinet Purchase Committee approved the project to buy the satellite system. Later, BTRC signed a deal involving Tk2,000 crore with Thales Alenia Space to construct the first-ever satellite project. Bangladesh will be the 57th country when Bangabandhu-1 will be launched into the orbital slot on 119.1 degree east longitude which (slot) was bought from Russian satellite company “Intersputnik” for US$28 million in January 2015.