Digital Bangladesh is Now a Brand: Sazeeb Wazed Joy

Government eyes to develop export posseting zone specially for Software industry in Dhaka to ensure 1 per cent contribution from Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in national GDP (Gross Domestic Growth).

Prime Minister’s ICT Advisor Sazeeb Wazed Joy shared this information while he was presenting the keynote at the Ministrial Conference held at Media bazar of Bangabandhu Intenational Confarance Centre as a part of Digital World on Tuesday.

There are five thousand websites including e-commerce and others in the country at this moment. Some Tk 600 crore transected through these sites in 2014. Besides, about Tk 10,000 crore transected through Mobile Financial Service,” Sajeeb Wazed added.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman hosted the panel discussion while International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary General Haulin Jhao, Bhutan’s ICT Minister Dina Nath Dhungoyel, Maldwip’ Minister Ahmed Adim, Nepal’s Minister Minendra Prasad attended the panel discussion. Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhit and ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak represented Bangladesh cabinet there.

“Bangladesh gets Digital Bangladesh brand at International level. Once a time foreign people considered us a leaked basket.The rate of poverty reduced to 26 per cent from 40. The usage of mobile telephony increased rapidly. In 2008, the number of mobile users was 20 million. About 120 million people are now using mobile services. 26 per cent of total mobile users are in internet connectivity,” PM’s ICT advisor briefed on the present status of connectivity of the country.

ITU Secretary General Hawline Zhao said that the economy of the country depends on connectivity. We should connect more people to information highway to emerge the market economy.

Hawline praised Bangladesh for ICT growth here and said “Bangladesh is going towards a bright future, the growth of connectivity is very impressing. Hope, the country will stand with good economy soon,”

“The young generation is the main stake holder of all of our growth in ICT. So the investors should patrol the innovations of young minds to get result of the Digital Bangladesh theme,” Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhit told the event and urged investors to assist young ICT professionals.

ICT State Minister Zunald Ahmed Palak focused on the vision of Digital Bangladesh in his part.

Government has taken different programmes to develop skilled man power in ICT sector. Besids, the standerd of sub marin cable is will be increased from 200 kbps to 14,00 kbps soon,” ICT State Minister said.

“Some 7 lakh internet proffesonals will be developed by 2021. Besides, we are contentiously working for ensure broad band connectivity at merzinalised people. We are very hopeful to reach cent percent of people with internet connectivity where 50 per cent will be under broadband” Zunaid Ahmed added.

“There are many international organization like, Fobes, JP Morgan, Goldmar Saches and City Group reviewed Bangladesh as next target of technology giants. The contribution of ICT and telecom sector in GDP will be 3 per cent by 2021.

There are repransatives form othe SAARC Coutries, Vietnam, Combodia and Philipine attended the ministerial conference among others.