Foundation of Digital Economy Must Be Built from Upazila Level: Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb

Under the Enhancing Digital Connectivity (EDC) Project, the government has inaugurated Upazila Service and Information Technology Training Centres in 100 upazilas across the country. The centres were formally launched by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser in charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

The inauguration ceremony was held on Monday, January 26, at the conference room of the ICT Division, where Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb spoke as the chief guest. The event was chaired by ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury.

Speaking at the programme, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said that building Digital Bangladesh requires moving beyond capital-centric initiatives and expanding ICT services and skills development at the upazila and grassroots levels. He noted that centres in 100 upazilas have already been completed, and work on an additional 179 centres will be finished within the next six months.

The Special Assistant said that office space, training facilities and co-working spaces have been ensured to enable upazila-level ICT officers to work effectively. Through these centres, ICT skill development programmes will be offered to students and freelancers, cyber security training will be provided to government officials and employees, and ICT support will be extended to educational institutions.

He further added that the centres will remain active throughout the year through initiatives such as iDEA, Startup Bangladesh, and other national training programmes. Therefore, alongside infrastructure development, ensuring proper utilisation and maintenance of the facilities is crucial.

In his remarks as chair, ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury said that the establishment of Upazila ICT Service and Training Centres is one of the most significant milestones of the TUICT programme. He informed that out of the target of 400 upazilas, 303 centres have already become operational, with 100 centres officially rolled out on the day.

The Secretary also noted that the ICT Division has made notable progress in digital infrastructure development, capacity building and cyber security. These initiatives are being implemented under the guidance of the Chief Adviser and his Special Assistant.

Through these centres, local people—particularly youth—will be able to access a wide range of modern, technology-driven services. Each centre will feature a modern digital lab, well-equipped training rooms, a startup zone, and a plug-and-play zone. The startup zone will offer high-speed internet and essential digital devices, allowing at least 20 entrepreneurs or freelancers to work simultaneously.

As a result, young people at the upazila level will gain access not only to training but also to dedicated working spaces, playing a vital role in creating new entrepreneurs and freelancers. This initiative is expected to generate significant self-employment opportunities and enable youth to earn foreign currency through freelancing.

Each plug-and-play zone will be capable of serving more than 50,000 people annually with digital services. In addition, the centres will function as offices for upazila-level ICT officers, further accelerating the delivery of digital services at the local level.

The initiative is expected to play a key role in the country’s digital transformation and the realisation of Smart Bangladesh.

The event was attended by Md Belal Hossain, Chief Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department; Md Abu Sayeed, Director General of the Department of ICT; Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Additional Secretary of the ICT Division; along with senior ICT officials, project representatives and invited guests.

DBTech/MM/EK/OR