Power of technology hoped to alleviate inequality

The four-day Olympic on World Congress on Information Technology started from Wednesday at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka with a famous song by Tagore: Anandaloke Mangalaloke Birajo Satyasundaro. At the same time 'Associo Digital Summit 2021' was inaugurated. His Excellency Md. Abdul Hamid, President, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh inaugurated the Silver Conference of WCIT held in hybrid mode with the participation of 85 countries of the world on the golden jubilee of Bangladesh. Being connected virtually from the Gallery Hall of Bangabhaban, the President delivered his inaugural address, where he commented that technology has played the most reliable role in the difficult days during COVID-19 pandemic. "We found the evidence that how important it was of building a digital Bangladesh during the Corona pandemic," he said. Information technology has become the most reliable means of dealing with the pandemic. The country's education activities, judicial activities, health services, banking services have become dependent on information technology. The local IT market has grown exponentially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The economic activities of the country are kept active by using information technology. The ICT department is assisting in the smooth and efficient conduct of corona vaccination activities by creating a 'Surokkha' platform at no cost. The number of registrations on this platform has already exceeded 70 million.” At the same time, he stressed on the need for all to move forward together to take the lead in tackling the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In order to implement Digital Bangladesh, it is necessary to create skilled human resources in the pioneering technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He also advised the technicians to be careful in this regard. "Information technology, on the one hand, has opened the door to untapped opportunities for us, and on the other hand, it has given rise to many challenges due to its misuse and fraud," he said. So, we have to stay ahead to face this challenge of information technology. Welcoming remarks were made by Mohammad Shahid Ul Munir, President of Bangladesh Computer Society, the main organizer of the conference. WITSA Chairman Yannis Siros, Bangladesh Computer Council Executive Director Dr. Abdul Mannan and NM Zeaul Alam, Senior Secretary, Department of Information and Communication Technology spoke in the event. Speaking on the occasion, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak called upon all to use technology as a tool to eliminate inequality in every field. "We use ICT to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas, to bridge the gap between rich and poor, to bridge the gap between men and women," he said. And we have been inspired by Bangabandhu in this regard. So, we follow the good aspects of technology, avoid the bad aspects. He further said that we are taking and implementing various activities including enactment of Digital Services Act. So that the digital services of the government can reach the hands of the people with speed and transparency. The opening ceremony of the conference ended with the playing of national anthem and hoisting the red and green flag of Bangladesh. However, seminars on various topics have been held in hybrid models since morning.