DHAKA: Prime Minister’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy Thursday said modernization of the information and communication technology sector is needed to provide internet access to all.
He also said to modernize country’s the ICT sector the existing telecommunication policy would be amended.
Joy, also son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, came up with this assertion while inaugurating Digital Investment Summit in Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel of the city on Thursday.
Telenor, parent company of Grameenphone, organized the daylong summit to attract the investors in ICT sectors.
Citing that in accordance with the size of the GDP size Bangladesh is the world’s 45th economy; Joy said the government wants to make the country as global IT industry.
In 2008, country’s poverty rate was 40 percent, which was declined to 26 percent in 2014. The literacy rate was also 48 percent which has increased to 65 percent, he added.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy said the electricity grid has increased to 62 percent from 27 percent while Internet users now at 27 percent from 0.4 percent and mobile subscribers have increased to 120 million from 20 million.
Informing the audiences that some 53,000 digital centers have been setup in the country, the adviser to the premier said through the digital centers, general people are getting all kinds of government services easily.
He said in past a few weeks required to get the government service including the land records. Now, people get the government services within 2 or 5 days. The development also saves money and time.
“Moreover, our website is the world’s largest one where more than 50,000 people are working. Some 25,000 multimedia classrooms have been established”, the grandson of Bangabandhu added.
ICT state minister Junaid Ahmed Palak said some 7 lakh people depends on the IT sector to earn their living. Within 10 years, IT and Software Park will be established in the country.
In 2018, Broadband Internet will be accessible across the country, including the rural areas, he added.
Telenor Group president Jon Fredrik Baksaas said Digital Bangladesh is now a reality. For this, skilled manpower will have to be generated in the ICT sector along with internet connectivity.
BDST: 1441 HRS, MAY 07, 2015
BD/RS
