Tk 3, 67 cr proposed for ICT

DHAKA: The government has proposed an allocation of Tk 3,67 crore for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in a bid to shown solidarity with the Prime Minister’s dream of establishing a ‘Digital Bangladesh’.

While placing the budget for 2012-13, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said, “To fulfill the dream of setting up Digital Bangladesh, we are attaching equal importance to establishing e-Governance, including e-Services, e-Education and e-Commerce.”

Mentioning that the government has established a new ministry namely ‘Ministry of Information and Communication Technology’, Muhith said, “ICT will be the principal means of transforming Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021.”

He informed that, Union Information and Service Centres have been established in 4,501 unions to provide information and services to people living in remote areas. About 40 lakh people on a monthly basis receive services from these centres. This has enhanced transparency and accountability of field administration.”

“In my 2009-10 budget speech, I made a commitment to introduce e-Governance by 2014. All ministries/divisions, directorates and departments have established their own websites which they update regularly”, he added.

Muhith said, “As committed, E-Tendering and e-GP (Electronic Government Procurement) have been introduced in government offices on a pilot basis. Now, people can easily access all government gazettes, necessary forms, circulars/rules and other government publications through internet.”

Regarding e-commerce service, he said, “We pledged to commence e-Commerce by 2012. We have completed all the preparations for introducing electronic/digital signature necessary for secured exchange of online information.”

Besides, he informed that the government has taken effective steps to establish e-Payment gateway leading to introduction of e-Commerce.

Mentioning that steps have been taken to convert 8,000 village post offices and 500 upazila post offices into ‘e-Centres’, the minister said, “The number of telephone users has increased to about 8.8 crore. At present, tele-density in the country is 61 percent and internet density is 21.3 percent.”

Finance minister claimed In order to increase e-Literacy; as many as 40,000 officers/staff of district and upazila level have received training. Around 5,000 portals have been established at district, upazila and union levels. In addition, by June 2013, multimedia class rooms will be installed in 20,500 educational institutions across the country.

BDST: 2005 HRS, June 7, 2012
Edited by: Tilka Binte Mehtab, Newsroom Editor / Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Sr Newsroom Editor / Maria Salam, Asst Output Editor