Digital technology will be the key to tackling the next challenge: Mostafa Jabbar

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mostafa Jabbar said that digital technology would be the key to tackling the challenges of the future, not limited to ICT technology. Students, especially IT students, need to be created as skilled digital human resources by engaging them in real life. To this end, he emphasized the need for research, development and acquisition of skills in 5G dependent digital devices and technologies. The Minister called upon the concerned educational institutes to make internship in digital technology industries compulsory to enrich the practical experience of the students. The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the Virtual International Conference on Computer and Information Technology organized by North South University in Dhaka on Saturday. Professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the United States Dr. Mohammad Ataur Karim presided over event, while North South University Board of Trustees Chairman Azim Uddin Ahmed, Robi CEO Riaz Rashid, North South University Vice Chancellor Prof. Atiqul Islam and Prof. Dr. A.S. Mohammad S. Alam delivered their speeches. Mentioning that Bangladesh has achieved unimaginable progress in digital technology, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications said that the People's Leader Sheikh Hasina showed the dream of Digital Bangladesh on December 12, 2008. In 2021, we can proudly say that we are living in digital Bangladesh. In the continuation of this, we have been able to keep the immobile life normal. We have not lagged behind in everything from education to economic life. Mostafa Jabbar, a pioneer of digital technology development, said that in many countries of the developed world, national growth was negative at that time, where we were able to achieve 5.24 percent growth. Mostafa Jabbar, a pioneer of digitization in education, said there was no chance of going back to the previous education system in the post-Corona world. The Minister said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has already established itself as a producer and exporter of digital devices. We are exporting computers and laptops to Nigeria and Nepal. Mentioning that 5G mobile is being exported to America, Mostafa Jabbar, the promoter of Bengali language in digital technology, said that Bangladesh is now exporting internet bandwidth to Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and India and is in the process of exporting bandwidth to Bhutan. Despite standing on the ruins of war, Bangabandhu has sown the seeds of digital revolution by establishing satellite ground stations in Betbunia, gaining ITO and UPU membership, forming T&T boards, emphasizing technical education or nationalizing primary education. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has transformed the seed sown by Bangabandhu in 18 years into a huge tree. Following this, Bangladesh missed three industrial revolutions of the past and overcame 324 years of backwardness in technology to qualify for leadership in the fourth industrial revolution, the minister said. Speakers at the event emphasized the need to create skilled digital human resources through the dissemination of digital education.