BTRC will be a role model and Postal Dept a house of trust: Palak

After assuming the new office, the State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications and ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak visited the activities of Directorate of Posts and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Wednesday and exchanged views with senior officials. Palak expressed hope that BTRC will not only be known as a regulator but also will set an exemplary instance as coordinator. At the same time, this Post Office will become a 'place of great strength' for the people in the future through digital transformation by keeping the government and civil services of the Department of Posts efficiently running smoothly and protecting the important facilities.

After taking charge of the ICT department in the morning, he first visited the BTRC at Agargaon and later at the Postal Directorate Office at around 10 o'clock. Zunaid Ahmed Palak held a meeting with all the officials at the beginning of the office work.

In both meetings, Post and Telecommunication Secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, a2i Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury, EDGE Project Policy Advisor Dr. Abdul Bari, a2i Head of Commercial Strategy Rezwanul Haque Jami and others were present. The state minister was welcomed with flowers at the BTRC meeting.

BTRC chairman Shyam Sundar Sikader presided over the meeting while the BTRC Vice Chairman Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed, Commissioner Abu Syed Dilzar Hossain, Professor Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, Dr. Mushfiq Mannan Chowdhury along with the Directors General of various departments were present.

In the meeting, State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak expressed hope that BTRC will create a new example and a unique model for building Smart Bangladesh. He said, it is hoped that BTRC will be an example to the whole world. Which will not only act as a regulator but also as a coordinator and play a leading role in building a smart economy.

Palak also said that the Department of Posts, Telecommunications and ICT played an important role in implementing digital Bangladesh, providing Internet services to all, becoming a country that manufactures electronic devices, and our future goal is to build a prosperous smart Bangladesh in 2041. We will also play a leading role. That is what we want.

In the meeting, Mr. Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications Department, said that the Department of Posts and Telecommunications is fully cooperating with BTRC and implementing the policies and guidelines adopted by the government. He also said that the department will work in coordination with the information and communication technology department in the future.

Mr. Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor of Aspire to Innovate (a2i) said that, the integration of innovative technologies is necessary to bring down the divide in getting telecommunication facilities to zero, last mile and last person connectivity will be the key infrastructure in building Smart Bangladesh.

BTRC chairman Shyam Sundar Sikdar said that besides maintaining the order of the telecommunication sector as a regulatory body and providing services to the general public, the activities of the commission in contributing to the national economy and cyber security were presented. Besides, he informed the State Minister about the significant activities undertaken by BTRC since its inception.

Stating that BTRC is not working as a regulator but as a facilitator, BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikdar said in the meeting that currently 16 companies have been approved to manufacture mobile handsets in the country. For that, five thousand crore taka have been invested, 30 thousand people have been employed, and the annual mobile production capacity is over three crores. At this time, he said that many activities of BTRC are related to IT department, so he emphasized that there is a need for close connection and coordination of the commission's activities with that department.

The meeting at 'Dak Bhavan' was presided over by Tarun Kanti Sikdar, Director General of Postal Department. Palak, in that meeting said that, "I used to deposit money in the post office while studying in secondary school and used that money while studying in Rajshahi. After becoming an MP, I opened a savings account at the Parliament Post Office. I have matured in 10 years and now in 15 years I have accumulated a lot of money. He said, that savings card is my biggest strength by dint of your prayers. Post office is a place of my trust. I think, from student life to working life, till retirement; Post offices everywhere can be a great strength for our future citizens.

Pointing out that the Prime Minister has emotional attachments with the postal department. He then highlighted the plan to make the postal department of Bangladesh smart in the same way that America's US Post has created a trillion dollar company like Amazon.