BTRC Unveils Commemorative Stamp to Launch World Telecom and Information Society Day

For the first time, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was officially inaugurated at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) building through the unveiling of a commemorative postage stamp. On Sunday morning, May 17, Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam unveiled the commemorative stamp at the BTRC Conference Center alongside three state ministers.

The state ministers present at the opening ceremony of the two-day event included State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin Putul, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad.

Earlier, in his welcome speech, BTRC Chairman Major General Md. Emdad Ul Bari (Retd.) called on the younger generation to identify real-life problems and innovate solutions for them.

He said, “The First World War began with telegraph, telephone, and radio technologies. Radar played a crucial role in the Second World War. Today, technology is one of the key elements of the struggle for life. In these turbulent and stormy times, this year’s World Telecommunication Day is being observed to sustain ourselves through digital lifelines.”

He added that to understand humanity’s struggle for survival, progress, and growth through digital lifelines, society must look back at the era of the agricultural revolution. “Technology has repeatedly driven growth through innovation over time. Therefore, we must ensure sustainable use of new innovations and imported technologies,” he said, citing locally adapted uses of shallow engines for boats and traditional “Nosimon” vehicles as examples.

Echoing his remarks, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said in a video message that global banking systems and numerous essential services currently depend on nearly 1.7 million submarine cables worldwide. She warned that a major earthquake could disconnect up to 90 percent of the world’s population from communications networks.

She stressed the need for coordinated global efforts to make digital life meaningful in line with international standards. She also emphasized the importance of ensuring the security of electricity systems and data centers.

The event was chaired by Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Bilkis Jahan Rimi. In his welcome speech, Information and Communication Technology Secretary Kazi Anwar Hossain emphasized the importance of ethics and environmental sustainability in digital transformation.

DBTech/IH/MI/OR