Bangladesh is working to establish a digitally equal society: Mustafa Jabbar
May 17 is being observed to mark the founding of ITU as the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. With the theme of 'Accelerating Digital Transformation in Challenging Times', Bangladesh like the 193 member countries of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a member of the United Nations, have been holding various programs every year.
Although it was not possible to take a detailed program due to the Corona pandemic, a virtual discussion meeting was held in Dhaka on Monday highlighting the significance of the day at the initiative of the Department of Posts and Telecommunications and BTRC.
Speaking as the chief guest at the Digital Platform, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar informed that, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman initiated a revolutionary change in initiating digital telecommunication technology in Bangladesh by getting the membership of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Universal Postal Union in the year 1973, Introducing Betbunia Satellite Earth Centre on 14 June 1975 and establishing T&T Board.
There was no technology in this agricultural land except plough and yoke. In the newly independent Bangladesh, we were not even involved in the industrialization of the mechanical age. He further mentioned that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has undergone unimaginable changes in 1996-2001 and in the last 12 years.
Mentioning that children in remote villages are also taking classes on mobile phones, Jabbar – the pioneer of digital transformation in education said, "People of Bangladesh have set an example of digital capability.
Mustafa Jabbar, former chairman of WSIS, said the government had promised to establish a knowledge-based society in 2003 but failed to do so. He did not even attend the next follow-up conference. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government is working to establish a digital equality society beyond that stage of information society.BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder presided over the function while Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications Md Afzal Hossain and AMTOB Chairman Mahtab Uddin Ahmed spoke on the occasion. World Telecommunication Day has been observed annually since May 16, 1989, commemorating the first International Telegraph Convention and the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). World Telecommunication Day has been observed annually since May 17, 1969, as a commemoration of the first International Telegraph Convention and the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Subsequently, in continuation of the development of information technology, it was decided to observe 17 May 2006 as the World Telecommunication and Information Union Day.
