Move Over SpaceX: Bangladesh Has Its Own Rockets Now — Meet DhumketuX

In a historic leap for South Asia’s technological landscape, Bangladesh is boldly stepping into the world of space exploration with the rise of its own aerospace company — DhumketuX. While SpaceX, Blue Origin, and other Western titans have long dominated headlines, a new player from the heart of Dhaka is quietly building momentum, aiming to disrupt the status quo and put Bangladesh on the global space map.

A Bold Vision Born in Bangladesh

Named after the Bengali word for “comet,” DhumketuX was founded by a team of young engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs driven by a simple but radical idea: space should be accessible to all nations, not just the richest or most powerful. Their mission is to make low-cost, high-performance rocketry a reality for Bangladesh and its regional partners.

“People often underestimate what's possible from a country like Bangladesh,” says Ayman Rahman, founder and CEO of DhumketuX. “But we’ve always been a resilient and innovative people. With DhumketuX, we’re proving that our ambitions can reach the stars — literally.”

The company operates from a research and development facility on the outskirts of Dhaka, where it has built a prototype workshop, testing lab, and launch simulation center. Unlike other private space firms backed by billionaires, DhumketuX runs on a lean model — combining crowdfunding, university partnerships, and government research grants to fuel its operations.

First Launch: A Spark of Promise

In March 2025, DhumketuX made headlines after successfully launching DX-1 Prithibi, Bangladesh’s first fully homegrown sounding rocket. While the flight was suborbital and lasted less than five minutes, it marked a significant milestone: the first time a Bangladeshi-built rocket left Earth’s atmosphere.

The launch took place at a makeshift coastal site near Cox’s Bazar and was monitored by a joint team of engineers and observers from Bangladesh’s Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO) and several international science observers.

DX-1 Prithibi reached an altitude of 83 kilometers before safely parachuting back into the Bay of Bengal. Onboard instruments collected atmospheric and radiation data, which DhumketuX scientists are now analyzing.

“The test went far beyond our expectations,” said lead propulsion engineer Tanisha Karim. “It proved that our systems — from fuel mixing to telemetry — work under real-world conditions.”

The Bigger Picture

DhumketuX isn’t just about making rockets — it’s about fostering a long-term vision for Bangladeshi space innovation. The company has outlined a roadmap that includes orbital satellite deployment, nano-satellite launch services for universities, and even space-based internet trials.

Next up is the DX-2 Akash, a larger rocket capable of carrying small payloads into low-Earth orbit. Scheduled for early 2026, it will mark the next phase of the company’s ambitions: commercial services. Several regional universities and weather research agencies have already expressed interest in using DhumketuX’s platform to launch CubeSats.

“Just like India has ISRO and the UAE has its Mars mission, we believe Bangladesh has a rightful place in the future of space exploration,” says Rahman. “DhumketuX is here to unlock that potential.”

National Pride, Global Reach

The emergence of DhumketuX is more than just a technological feat — it’s a point of national pride. In a country often associated with garment factories and agricultural exports, the idea that it could one day launch satellites — or even astronauts — is inspiring a new generation.

Bangladeshi universities have already begun expanding aerospace engineering programs. STEM workshops are being held in rural schools, and interest in science competitions is surging.

Globally, DhumketuX has caught the attention of several private space forums and innovation networks. It has already been invited to present at the 2025 Global Space Tech Summit in Singapore.

Final Frontier or First Step?

While the road ahead is long, DhumketuX has ignited something powerful — a belief that space is no longer reserved for the superpowers. From its modest lab in Dhaka to the coastal skies of Cox’s Bazar, the company has launched more than a rocket: it has launched a vision.

As the world watches SpaceX and others race toward Mars, DhumketuX reminds us that the space race isn’t just about who gets there first — it’s about who dares to begin.