10 freelancers received Digital Services Award

Digital Services Awards were given to 10 freelancers based on income and type of work. A payment gateway company also received the award.

The award was given by Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society (BFDS) on the occasion of 'Digital Bangladesh Day' and 'International Human Rights Day' on Sunday (December 10).

The freelancers who received the award are — Nahida Akhtar, Saima Shawkat, Abdul Al Farooq Antu, Md Rejuan Ahmed Bappi, Zakaria Swapan, Farzuk Ahmed, Nafiur Rahman, Abdullah Al Mamun, Atiqur Rahman, Irfanur Rahman and Minhajul Asif.

Director General of Information and Communication Technology Directorate Md. Mustafa Kamal handed over the prizes to the winners while BFDS President Tanjiba Rahman presided over this event.

BASIS Director Ahmedul Islam Babu, a leading global enabler of digital advertising company Httpool's Partner Director Munaf Mojeeb Chowdhury, Shadheen Human Rights Foundation Chairman Nazmul Islam and Bangladesh Digital Education Society Chairman Jasim Uddin Joy were also present among others in the event.

A special discussion meeting is organized on the occasion of the award-giving ceremony. Md. Mostafa Kamal, DG, ICTD urged the freelancers to highlight their challenges and problems while he speaking as a chief guest. Responding to his urge, a freelancer said, an expatriate spends money to go abroad and send remittances. However, freelancers are bringing remittances in the country without spending Taka at abroad. So we demand more recognition for govt. Another freelancer said, that nowadays Job-oriented training is being arranged in rural as non-urban youth become a freelancer and can earn dollars instead of spending money to go abroad. After freelancing we also started working with nano-technology.