BCC’s Connected Bangladesh will ensure internet access in 617 remote Unions

The ICT Division is working tirelessly to establish the Digital Bangladesh dream of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Under the guidance and supervision of the State Minister for ICT Division Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) of the ICT Division has been taking and implementing different initiatives to make the country a pioneer in information and communication technology and build a Digital Bangladesh.

The BCC has founded a project called “Connected Bangladesh” to provide internet access to remote areas of Bangladesh. The project started in October 2018 and will run till December 2023 where the estimated cost of the project is BDT 50443.31 lakhs. Through this project, BCC will ensure internet facilities in 617 remote unions of Bangladesh. Under the project, a high network will be established in the telecommunication-deprived areas. At the same time, the project will play an important role in enhancing the interoperability, efficiency, transparency, effectiveness and quality of services (SOS) of the Bangladesh government through the expansion of the backbone network across the country.

The impact of technology and science on almost every aspect of our modern life is extremely evident today. Internet is now being used extensively for multifaceted purposes. Not only that, the internet has brought an extreme change in human life, in addition, the Internet is one of the pioneering means of communication of all kinds around the world. Bangladesh government has already taken different steps to reach every part of the country with an internet connection. In light of this, BCC’s Connected Bangladesh project is working to establish network connectivity in remote areas deprived of telecommunication facilities. BCC Executive Director and Additional Secretary to the Bangladesh Government Dr. Md. Abdul Mannan, PAA thinks that the citizen in the region will be able to fully enjoy the benefits of the project soon.

One of the objectives of this project is to provide network connection to all schools, colleges, madrasas, growth centers, telecom operators etc. in remote areas. Apart from promoting e-commerce, e-services, telemedicine through high-speed internet usage, one of the goals of the project is to increase employment in the IT sector and create new entrepreneurs. The Project Director (Deputy Secretary) of the “Connected Bangladesh” project Mr. Jagadish Chandra Sarker thinks that this will eliminate the digital division inequality in the riverine, remote, hilly and remote 617 unions of the country.

The Connected Bangladesh project is being implemented with the funding of the “Social Obligation Fund (SOF)” managed by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) under the Posts and Telecommunications Division to expand telecommunication facilities. Under this project, 8106 km of optical fiber cable is being installed at the union level, backbone router and DC power system are being installed in the union and pop room renovation work are underway. Bangladesh Cable Shilpa Ltd, Khulna a state-owned company, has procured 8106 km of optical fiber cable and 5,000 km of duct pipes. As of January 2022, according to the internal data of the project, the work of Pop Room Renovation is about 51.28% and the work of laying Optical Fiber Cable is about 40.22%. A strong team consisting of about 62 skilled manpower is working on the implementation of this project. The project director said that in the meantime, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Army, work has been undertaken to install optical fiber cables in 59 unions in the three remote areas of Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati. He added said that soon 13 unions of Sandwip will be brought under broadband connectivity by optical fiber through remote areas as well as under the sea.