5 organisations, 1 individual recognised First Bangabandhu International Cyber Security Awareness Award
As a remarkable challenge, the first Bangabandhu International Cyber Security Awareness Award 2023 was given to one person and five organizations on Thursday. Tamjid Rahman, Anir Rajamala, Afasana Akhtar Kanis, DIG Amena Begum, Shyam Sundar Sikder and Manisha Min Nipun received the award.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak handed over the prizes to the winners at Hotel Radisson Blu in the capital.
In the student category, Tamjid Rahman, a student of St. Joseph's School, was selected as the Smart Student with the Plenty Project. This 12-year-old boy said, being born in digital Bangladesh, we have a lot of responsibility to protect ourselves from danger. So we do an awareness workshop in school with seed money from parents. Then launch the comic base e-book.
Anir Rajamala, founder of India's And Now Foundation, also received the award in the Entrepreneurs category online. He said that he will be more vocal in protecting digital freedom for getting this award.
Byte Capsule won as a startup in the same category. Entrepreneurs Shakib Haque Zeesan and Afasana Akhter Kanis received this award for their work in training and skill development in social media.
Bangladesh Police Women Network was awarded in the government category. Special Branch DIG Amena Begum accepted the award. After receiving the award, she said that she has made 1200 bankers and 6000 women police aware online. In the same category, Digital Security Cell of BTRC, a leading organization in cyber security process, received this award. BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder received the award.
He said, we need safe internet and secure digital space. For this reason, in 2021, we created a digital security cell with 10 officers. So far we have removed 35 thousand content based on various complaints. I managed to delete 400 betting links from Facebook.
Pathochola Foundation was also awarded in the special category. Manisha Min Nipun, a representative of the third gender community, accepted the award. Nipun says, keep us close without sidelining us.
Winners in each category received a cash prize of $10,000. The funding was raised through the 'Golden Jubilee Bangladesh Concert' held in New York's Madison Square Garden in 2022. UNDP, Hi-Tech Park Authority and Digital Security Agency were partners in this initiative to give this honor to those engaged in cyber security with that money.
Stephen Leeler, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, said that there has been a boom in the technology sector in Bangladesh. Digital Bangladesh is moving forward with innovative and creative own solutions. But now is the time to ensure good governance in the digital sector as well. UNDP will work together with Bangladesh on issues like gender discrimination, spreading hatred. Cyber threats require us to work together as a single enterprise.
ICT Secretary Shamsul Arefin said that Bangladesh has been able to achieve Sustainable Development Goals even after the pandemic by using digital power. In this age of the internet we all need to be careful with the rise of social media. That's why everyone has to work together to create awareness.
Abu Saeed Kamruzzaman, director general of the Digital Security Agency, said cyber security is not a single country issue; it is a global initiative. Because cyber security knows no boundaries. So we all have to work together. Success in building a Smart Bangladesh by 2041 will depend on our united efforts. So everyone must work tirelessly to protect our cyberspace.
Hi-Tech Park Authority Managing Director GSM Zafar Ullah has selected 35 cyber initiatives from more than two hundred and 12 awards were to be given, but it has been reduced to half and given to six individuals and organizations.
UNDP Program Coordinator Shahreen Tilottama announced the winners name at the event. Google Asia Pacific Cyber Security Officer Mark Johnston were connected online.
