DHAKA, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak today
said that the digital centre will emerge as a role model for the ‘Smart
Bangladesh’ that is envisaged to be materialized by 2041.
“The initiative (digital centre) has gained international recognition and it
will be the model for Smart Bangladesh,” he said.
Palak said this at a function organized by a2i at Singra in Natore, marking
the 13th founding anniversary of the Digital Centre, said a press release
here today.
Noting that this model (digital centre) is being replicated in many
countries, including the Philippines, South Africa, Ghana, and Cambodia, the
state minister said the government planned to set up 1,000 village digital
centers across the country by 2024 to make the digital services accessible to
all village people.
“We are setting up village digital centres so that no one remains left behind
from availing smart services in the ‘Smart Bangladesh’. Besides, 20 lakh
youths will be given training on smart skills and employment by the next
year,” he added.
Moreover, the government is also working on creating smart villages and
citizens through various initiatives, Palak said.
Previously people had to travel to upazila or district headquarters to avail
different services like birth and death registrations, paying bills and
completing registration to go abroad and face different difficulties, he
said, adding, but the landmark initiative (digital centre) of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina has reached all the services to doorsteps of the country’s
people, saving time and money.
Over 17,800 male and female entrepreneurs of 9,397 digital centers are
delivering more than 385 types of public and private services to the citizens
across the country, Palak said, adding, the entrepreneurs have so far saved
78.14 percent of time, 16.55 percent of cost and 17.38 percent of the
traveling times of the citizens.
At the function Palak inaugurated training programmes for the BDSET Centre,
Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centre, and ‘Her Power Project’ under
the initiative of the Bangladesh India Digital Service and Employment
Training Centre.
The best female and male entrepreneurs selected by the district and upazila
administrations were given awards at the event for their annual performance.
Project Director of a2i Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Natore Superintendent of
Police Md Tariqul Islam, Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center
Project Deputy Project Director (deputy secretary) Md Mokhtar Ahmed and
Project Director of Bangladesh-India Digital Services and Employment Training
Center Project Md Amirul Islam were present at the function, among others.
Natore Deputy Commissioner Abu Nasser Bhuiyan presided over the event while
deputy project director of ICT Division’s ‘Her Power Project’ Nilufa Yasmin
moderated it.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha