Call for Connectivity: Interim Advisor Urges Lower Internet Costs

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has called for making internet services more affordable and accessible to the public.

He made the remarks on Saturday, May 17, at the inaugural and award distribution ceremony of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, held at the BTRC headquarters in Dhaka.

The event was also attended by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Mahbuba Farzana, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

In his welcome address, BTRC Chairman (Retd.) Major General Md. Emdad Ul Bari highlighted the importance of the occasion. Also present were ICT Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury and Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Zahirul Islam.

In his speech as the chief guest, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan stated, “The government has taken steps to reduce internet prices. Prices have already been lowered at the IIG and NTTN levels. Within the next month or two, customers will begin to experience the benefits. However, it is essential to ensure further reductions in internet costs to make it more user-friendly for the general public.”

He added, “While we have made significant progress in using the internet in education, we still lag behind in agriculture and healthcare. These sectors must see increased internet integration.”

Commenting on disaster resilience, he noted, “Mobile internet services often get disrupted during floods and storms. While we cannot control such natural calamities, we must plan to ensure uninterrupted internet services during these times. Steps must be taken to keep telecommunication systems operational during disasters.”

Bhuiyan further remarked, “In the July Revolution, genocide was committed by imposing an internet blackout. At the time, we didn’t know what had happened. We only learned about it later once internet access was restored. Internet is being defined as a civil right, and a draft of the Cyber Security Ordinance has been prepared. This is a major achievement of the current government.”

He also expressed concern about the loss of local tech innovators due to a lack of support. “We hear about new innovations in the ICT sector every day. But how much are we contributing? The same applies to 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies. The younger generation must be more actively involved in technological innovation,” he said. “We must ensure the safe use of information technology and the internet. We admit that we are failing to ensure women's safety in cyberspace. Once the Cyber Security Ordinance is passed, cyberspace will become safer for women.”

Fayez Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, emphasized that the government is working to increase female participation in the ICT sector. “The Cyber Security Ordinance will be passed within a few weeks, and it will enhance women’s protection in cyberspace,” he said.

He further stated, “Women entrepreneurs and professionals will be prioritized in the National Innovation Challenge. Initiatives like ‘Shobuj Pata’ will also prioritize women.”

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was celebrated in Bangladesh on May 17 under the theme "Digital Innovation for Gender Equality." Various seminars and events were organized to mark the occasion, including a fair, stamp unveiling, and a hackathon hosted at the BTRC premises, which was adorned with banners and festoons throughout the day.