The University of Chittagong (CU) authorities have signed an agreement with the Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO), a national research institution under China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, to construct an Ocean Satellite Ground Station on the CU campus.

Upon the invitation of SIO officials based in Hangzhou, China, CU’s esteemed Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yeahia Akhter, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Dr. Mohammad Kamal Uddin, and the ex-head of the Department of Oceanography and CU’s focal person for the ground station construction project, Dr. Mohammad Muslem Uddin, traveled to China on December 16, 2024.

During their December 17 and 18 visit, they toured SIO’s state-of-the-art remote sensing and data analysis labs, ongoing research activities, and the main Ocean Satellite Ground Station at the SIO campus and the Ocean Satellite Base Station in Linan.

After several rounds of meetings on matters of mutual interest, the agreement was signed on December 19, 2024. The agreement was signed by Professor Dr. Fang Yinxia, Director-General of SIO, on behalf of SIO, and Professor Dr. Muhammad Yeahia Akhter, Vice Chancellor of CU, on behalf of the University of Chittagong.

Once the Marine Satellite Ground Station is established on the CU campus, it will significantly enhance the research opportunities and capabilities in marine, meteorological, and climate studies for relevant researchers in Bangladesh.