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S21WD Bangladesh

S21WD Team will be active from Bangladesh, 20 March - 1 April 2026.
Team - DK6SP, DJ4MX, M0SDV, DL3ON, S21ABO, S21TV.
Recent DX Spots S21WD
S21WD Log search They will operate on 160 - 10m, CW, SSB, Digital Modes and also QO - 100 satellite.
They planning also activity from IOTA AS - 140..
QSL via DJ4MX, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.

A small country on the coast of the Bay of Bengal

Bangladesh is a small South Asian country located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. It borders India to the south, north, and west, and Myanmar to the east. The country has a high population density: approximately 169 million people live in an area of 144,000 square kilometers. The official languages of the state are English and the local language, Bengali. The majority of the population, about 90%, are Muslims. There are also Protestants and Catholics in the country, as well as a small number of Hindus. The capital is Dhaka, one of the largest cities not only in Bangladesh but in the whole world. Most of the population is employed in the production of tea, sugar, and cotton. Fishing and the subsequent export of the catch are also well developed in the country.

Despite favorable conditions for agricultural development and tourist interest, Bangladesh remains the poorest country on the planet. This may be due to frequent floods, which periodically destroy crops. One of the social problems here is the use of child labor in enterprises. In general, Bangladesh is characterized by cheap labor, which is why foreign enterprises often open here.

S21WD Bangladesh

The long road to independence

Bangladesh has a centuries-old history. As early as the 7th century BC, the territory of modern Bangladesh was home to a developed civilization, the Gangaridai Kingdom, which later broke up into separate principalities. After a period of civil strife, the scattered principalities united to form the Bengal state in the 8th century AD. However, it was not destined to exist for long. In the 13th century, the Delhi Sultanate conquered these lands and spread Islam throughout them. Political instability in the state and constant power struggles meant that the country was unable to resist external invasions. As a result, in the 15th century, the Mongols invaded its territory, and then it was subjected to Western colonization and became a British colony. It was not until 1971 that the state gained independence. And in 1988, after numerous attempts at coups d'état, Bangladesh was declared an independent Islamic unitary republic.

S21WD Bangladesh DX NewsBangladesh. Author - Bulbul Khan.

Humid tropical climate

The country has a tropical climate with high humidity, frequent monsoons, and cyclones. In summer, the air warms up to +40°C, and in winter, the temperature does not drop below +8°C. Due to constant torrential rains, Bangladesh often suffers from floods, and its territories are constantly flooded. To avoid this phenomenon, tourists are advised to visit the country from December to March.

These areas are characterized by abundant vegetation, mainly tropical rainforests and mangrove forests. Sanyan trees, bamboo, various species of orchids, and water lilies grow here. The forests of Bangladesh are home to Asian elephants, leopards, Bengal tigers, crocodiles, pythons, and mongooses. The rare bird species, the magpie robin, which lives and breeds in the country, has become a national symbol and is depicted on local banknotes.

S21WD Bangladesh Tourist attractions spotBangladesh. Author - Serge Anton.

The amazing world of Asia

Tourists from all over the world are just beginning to discover Bangladesh, which amazes the imagination with its iconic buildings, lush nature, and Asian flavor.

Bangladesh's centuries-old history has left its mark, and the country is extraordinarily rich in cultural and religious attractions. In the capital, Dhaka, you can see temples of various religions: an Armenian Christian church, a Muslim star mosque, and the pagan Hindu temple of Dakeshwari. In the capital's national museum, you can learn about the history and culture of the country and see ancient books and examples of folk art. In Dhaka, it is common to get around using rickshaw services, which is typical for Asian countries. 17 km from Dhaka is an architectural replica of the famous Taj Mahal.

The country is also rich in natural attractions. The National Zoo is popular among tourists, with more than 2,000 different animals, including lions, tigers, pandas, bears, and many others. Here you can visit the famous butterfly garden. The largest mangrove forest on the planet is located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Here you can take a night boat trip accompanied by an experienced guide and see rare animals such as Indian pythons and amazing fireflies.

Beach lovers should visit the resort of Cox's Bazar, which is known for its golden sand, clear water, and absence of sharks.

S21WD Bangladesh DX Pedition LogoS21WD. Bangladesh DX Pedition Logo.

S21WD Where is Bangladesh located. Map.

S21WD Bangladesh. Sunrise 04-02-2026 at 23:48 GMT sunset at 12:15 GMT
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5 Comments

100%
Rating: 5 of 5
Fred
  • Callsign: F4HQO
  • 2026-03-31 15:17:42
100%
Rating: 5 of 5
Team
  • Callsign: S21WD
  • 2026-03-23 15:51:01
The S21WD team has successfully arrived in Bangladesh and is now active from IOTA AS-140, marking the transition from logistics to on-air operations. On March 17, Jamie M0SDV arrived in Munich, where the team completed final preparations. The evening was dedicated to last packing activities, coordination with local supporters, and a joint dinner before departure. On March 18, the team departed from Munich via Istanbul to Dhaka with Turkish Airlines. Despite the significant amount of heavy and oversized baggage, check-in procedures were handled efficiently with excellent support from airline staff. All flight segments and the transit in Istanbul were uneventful. Crucially, all equipment arrived in Dhaka complete and without damage. Customs clearance had been pre-coordinated with local amateur radio contacts, allowing for a smooth and efficient entry process. Upon arrival, the team received a warm welcome from local operators. After regrouping, equipment was repacked and expedition supplies were collected, as the team operates fully self-sufficient. A short breakfast in Dhaka was followed by final supermarket purchases. Special thanks go to S21ABO for preparing essential items in advance, which significantly eased logistics during the Eid Mubarak period. The onward journey to the QTH required a multi-stage transport operation. After navigating through Dhaka’s busy old town, approximately 600 kg of equipment and supplies were loaded onto a ferry for an overnight crossing of around 12 hours. During the crossing, the team had an interesting exchange about amateur radio with the owner of the ferry company. After arrival, the journey continued by minibus for about one hour, including a stop for a local breakfast, before transferring to a final boat. At this stage, additional cargo was loaded, including around 500 kg of drinking water and a 10 kVA generator. Following arrival on the island (AS-140), a final 20-minute tuk-tuk ride brought the team to the QTH. Immediately after arrival, work began in parallel on site exploration, shack setup, and antenna construction. The first signal as S21WD was transmitted on March 20 at approximately 17:00 UTC. Initial operations revealed a much higher than expected level of local man-made noise, which had not been present during earlier site visits. In parallel, frequent grid power outages made it necessary to bring the expedition’s generator online early. The generator has been operating reliably since commissioning. However, one grid failure resulted in the loss of an amplifier and a power supply. Repair attempts have so far been unsuccessful. Antenna deployment has progressed steadily. The 5-band Spiderbeam installed on the roof is performing well. The 3-band WARC Spiderbeam could not be deployed at the planned location and therefore had to be relocated to a green area in front of the house. Further progress was achieved on March 22 with the installation of two large lowband verticals for 80m and 160m. Initial tests are very promising, particularly towards Europe. In combination with a receive flag antenna, which has shown clear improvements in signal-to-noise ratio, the first encouraging results on 80 meters have already been observed. Long beverage antennas are currently under preparation, and additional systems, including a 60m vertical and a QO-100 station, are planned for deployment shortly. We have already been present during openings towards North America; however, current conditions combined with the local noise limitations have so far resulted in limited success. Operational capacity is currently slightly reduced, as three operators are temporarily affected by health issues, limiting both antenna construction and operating activity. At the same time, strong support from local amateur radio operators has been instrumental in maintaining progress, and the team is very grateful for this assistance. The hospitality and catering provided by local hosts have been excellent throughout. With the main antenna systems now largely in place and stable power ensured via the generator, the setup phase is nearing completion. The focus will now shift towards full operating mode, with top priority on locating and eliminating the noise source, followed by attention to openings towards high-demand regions such as North America and further optimization of lowband performance. Further updates will follow as operations continue from AS-140.
100%
Rating: 5 of 5
Philipp
  • Callsign: DK6SP
  • 2026-01-20 17:48:14
Erding, Germany – 20 January 2026 by Philipp Springer, DK6SP S21WD – Bangladesh 2026: Project Update The Next Generation DX Club e.V. is pleased to announce a major milestone for its upcoming Bangladesh DXpedition: the callsign S21WD has been officially issued for the project. The team would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for issuing the callsign specifically for the purpose of this DXpedition. We also thank our friends at the Amateur Radio Association of Bangladesh (ARAB) for their continued support and assistance during the licensing process. The assignment of S21WD marks an important milestone and allows the project to move fully into its final preparation phase. With around two months remaining before departure to Bangladesh, preparations for the S21WD – Bangladesh 2026 DXpedition are now well advanced. The team plans to operate from IOTA AS-140 (Khulna / Barisal Region group) at the end of March 2026. During the past months, many evenings and weekends were spent at DG8MG’s QTH, which serves as the main preparation and logistics location. All major antenna systems were assembled and carefully tested there. These tests helped confirm correct assembly procedures, transport concepts, and overall system reliability well before departure. We would like to thank our local radio friends who supported the team during these preparation sessions once again. They spent many hours assisting with equipment tests and sharing their experience and knowledge. Their contribution was essential and made the current level of readiness possible. As departure is getting closer, the focus has moved from antennas to station infrastructure. Work is ongoing on power distribution, station layouts, cabling, networking, and backup concepts. Full system tests of the complete stations – including radios, amplifiers, filters, and software – are planned for the coming weeks. The DXpedition will be active for 12 days and operate on 160 through 10 meters, including 5 MHz (60 m), using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. In addition, activity via the QO-100 satellite is planned using CW, SSB, and FT4. The Team The project is organized by the Next Generation DX Club e.V. and carried out by an international team: • Philipp Springer (DK6SP, 28) – Team Lead • Sven Lovrić (DJ4MX, 23) – Co-Lead and QSL Manager Team Members: • Jamie Williams (M0SDV, 25) • Leon Hellmich (DL3ON, 21) • Rudranil Sarker Apon (S21ABO, 23) • Anup Kumar Bhowmick (S21TV, 46) The average age of the team is approximately 27 years, combining youth-driven DXpeditioning with experienced local participation. Around 400 kg of equipment are currently being prepared and packed. Most of the equipment will be transported by the team as additional checked luggage on the flights. This requires careful weight planning and standardized packing, while allowing direct control over all critical equipment. Following the successful DXpeditions 8R7X – Guyana 2024 (more than 73,000 QSOs) and V73WW – Marshall Islands 2025 (more than 103,000 QSOs), the team is highly motivated to continue this success with S21WD – Bangladesh 2026. QSL, LoTW, and Live Log Information In line with previous Next Generation DX Club DXpeditions, all QSOs are planned to be uploaded to LoTW daily and free of charge, subject to local internet availability. To provide transparency and reduce duplicate contacts during the operation, a Club Log Live Stream will be used to display QSOs in near real time, depending on the availability and stability of the on-site internet connection. Paper QSL cards will be available via Club Log OQRS and will be handled by Sven Lovrić (DJ4MX) as QSL Manager, supported by his team within the Next Generation DX Club e.V. Sponsorship and Donations DXpeditions of this scale require significant financial and logistical effort. The Next Generation DX Club e.V. is a non-profit organization recognized under German law and is authorized to issue official donation receipts (Zuwendungsbestätigungen). These receipts are tax-deductible in Germany. Recognition in other countries depends on national tax regulations. Donors outside Germany should consult their tax advisor or local tax authority. Donations and sponsorships support transport costs, equipment operation, permits, and local logistics. Information on how to support the project is available here: www.next-generation-dx.com/donate To stay up to date and never miss any announcements, please follow the team on Facebook: facebook.com/S21WD Further information, updates, and background details about the project are available on the official website: next-generation-dx.com Feel free to check it out and follow our upcoming adventure to Asia. Let us make this project a great success together – the team is ready. We look forward to getting you down the log very soon. 73, Team S21WD