Lauren Dreyer, Vice President at SpaceX, has highly commended the coordinated efforts of Bangladeshi government officials in successfully launching Starlink operations in the country. She remarked that she has never witnessed such efficiency and rapid decision-making anywhere else.
Dreyer made these comments during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna on Friday (July 18).
"We operate in 150 countries and regions," Lauren Dreyer stated. "We have never seen such efficiency and quick decision-making before. On behalf of all my colleagues at SpaceX, I thank you (Dr. Yunus). We look forward to working closely with your people."
At the meeting, the Chief Adviser thanked Vice President Lauren Dreyer for visiting Bangladesh, noting, "It is currently the monsoon season, a very charming time in the country. A beautiful environment, green all around with water. However, there is also the reality of floods and waterlogging. For that, we need reliable technology for good connectivity."
He further added, "Our remote areas in the hilly regions have a special need for improved connectivity. There are no good school teachers or doctors in these areas. We have set a target to launch online education in 100 schools, which will benefit students in isolated areas."
Emphasizing inclusive healthcare, the Chief Adviser continued, "We are prioritizing digital healthcare so that people in remote areas can consult doctors online. Their medical history will be digitally stored, making future consultations easier."
He also highlighted its effectiveness during pregnancy, stating, "It plays a very effective role during pregnancy. Women often need an accompanying person to visit a doctor during this time. With digital health services, they can consult doctors from home."
Dr. Yunus mentioned that expatriate Bangladeshis would also benefit from digital health services. He noted that expatriates often feel uncomfortable visiting doctors due to language barriers, worrying about what to say. However, with digital health services, they can consult with Bangladeshi doctors on health-related matters from abroad.
The Chief Adviser told the SpaceX Vice President, "The small initiatives we are taking here, you can take them to a global scale."
Praising Dr. Yunus's ideas, Lauren Dreyer said, "We can talk to other leaders about the example you are setting. We will say – if Professor Yunus can do these things in his own country, then you can do them in yours too."
The SpaceX Vice President told Dr. Yunus, "The initiative you have taken to deliver government services to the people of the country is highly commendable. I travel to various countries frequently, so I know how corruption can be a serious problem. Decentralizing services and ensuring good governance through technology is a meaningful approach."
The meeting was also attended by Richard Griffiths, Global Engagement Consultant at SpaceX, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, National Security Adviser of Bangladesh, Foyez Ahmed Tayeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Post, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, and Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA, among others.
